1. Roots of Real Numbers 1 2 3 Definitions Simplifying Radicals
Practice Problems

2. Definition Square Root Cube Root nth Root
Base number of a value taken to the second power
Example: the square root of 49 is ±7, since (±7)2=49
Cube Root
Base number of a value taken to the third power
Example: the cube root of 125 is 5, since 53=125
nth Root
Base number of a value taken to any power
Example: the 8th root of 256 is 2, since (±2)8=256

3. Nominclature

4. Rules Positive numbers Negative numbers
Odd index number means Roots are always positive
Even index numbers means Roots are both positive and negative
Example: since both 4 and -4 squared will result in 16
Negative numbers
Even index number, no real root
Odd index number, always negative
Example:

5. Finding Roots