What's the square root of 17?

1 Answer
Jul 11, 2015

#sqrt(17) ~= 4.123# is the number which when squared gives #17#

It is an irrational number. That is, it cannot be expressed as #p/q# for integers #p# and #q# with #q!=0#

Explanation:

Actually #17# has two square roots.

We call the positive one #sqrt(17) ~= 4.123#

The negative one is #-sqrt(17) ~= -4.123#