Question

How do you simplify sqrt 256?

Answer 1

With a calculator it is easy you just type in `sqrt256`
Without a calculator it is more trial and error as far as I know
you could start with `15xx15` which equals 225, so you know that is wrong and it's lower than 256.
You would than know that the number has to be increased so you could try `17xx17` however that equals 289, which is too high.
You would then try `16xx16` which is equal to 256.
Therefore the answer is 256, this is based on the assumption that you don't have access to a calculator and you know your double multiplication.