The square of a number and the square root
The square root

1.- The square of a number.

The square of a number is the result of multiplying that number by itself.

To see the square of a number graphically:

- Type a number in the control box below and hit Enter. You can change this number by using the up and down triangles. 

- A length segment will appear in the window depending on the value of the typed number and its square divided into small squares.

- The number of small squares represents the value of the square of that number.


2.- The meaning of the whole square root and the remainder square root.

Calculating the square root of a number is doing the inverse operation to its square, that is, finding another number that turns out to be the first one when it is multiplied by itself.

 

- Type a number in the control box below and hit Enter. You can change that number by using the up and down triangles.

- The window shows as many small squares as the typed number.
Those small squares form a square marked orange. The remaining small squares remain yellow.

- The length of a side of the square (by counting the small squares on one side) tells us the whole square root.

-The number of the remaining small squares -marked yellow- shows the value of the remainder of the square root.

Activity:
Taking the square root of a number as a reference, what is the largest value of the remainder?


         
           
  Eduardo Barbero Corral
 
© Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. Year 2007