1. If b2 = a, then b is a square root of a
Square Roots Squaring and Square Rooting are INVERSE OPERATIONS. They undo one another.
THINK! If = then
Square Root of a Number:
Radical Symbol: Radicand:
Special Cases:
If b2 = a, then b is a square root of a
Number inside the radical
Examples:
The (positive) square root of 16.
The negative square root of 16.
“Plus or minus the square root of 16”.
Zero has only one square root.
Negative numbers have
NO REAL SQUARE ROOTS.
A number times itself will NEVER be negative!

2. Approximate the value of a non-perfect square root:
Cube Roots Cubing and Cube Rooting are INVERSE OPERATIONS. They undo one another.
THINK! If = 8 then You CAN cube root a negative!
Approximate the value of a non-perfect square root:
Steps: 1) 2) 3)
Find the two closest perfect squares (greater than and less than)
See where your number fits in
Make a decimal approximation (nearest tenth)