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What is the square root of nine? - September 15, 2011
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16 Comments

E_net4 | September 15, 2011 1:55 PM | Reply

Three, for my computer said so after running an approved algorithm!

Duke | September 15, 2011 2:16 PM | Reply

But what about -3?

lzj replied to comment from Duke | September 15, 2011 3:19 PM | Reply

Way to start a flamewar :D

alex replied to comment from Duke | September 15, 2011 3:40 PM | Reply

then i guess the square root is (3,-3), problem solved

Tenebrais replied to comment from alex | September 16, 2011 8:14 AM | Reply

Well, since I like nothing more than to be pedantic, it'd be {3, -3}. (3,-3) is a set of cartesian co-ordinates.

Name replied to comment from Tenebrais | September 17, 2011 7:32 PM | Reply

I'm afraid not, because {3,-3} is a set. Squaring a set does not produce the natural number 9.

From Wikipedia: "Although the principal square root of a positive number is only one of its two square roots, the designation "the square root" is often used to refer to the principal square root."

So, by convention, the statement 'The square root of 9 is 3.' often means 'The principal square root of 9 is 3.', and in this case it is clear that is the meaning that is intended.

The key to being a successful pedant is doing your research.

isfturtle replied to comment from Duke | September 15, 2011 4:29 PM | Reply

Squareroot implies positive.

Lemrin | September 15, 2011 3:46 PM | Reply

Hereafter, swoosh into a quint.

Bob | September 16, 2011 5:41 AM | Reply

A reply with an estimate from a famous statistician:

O! Quite near to two, Hans. Fisher.

Evan | September 16, 2011 10:04 AM | Reply

But does an equation show it? I thought there was no equation that you could use to determine a square root, and that calculators had to use a brute force guess and check method.