The Excel SQRT function is a mathematical function used to calculate the square root of a given number. It is a handy tool for finding the value that, when multiplied by itself, equals the input number.
Syntax
=SQRT(number)
Arguments
| number | The number for which you want to find the square root. |
How to Use
The SQRT function in Excel is straightforward to use. You need to provide a single argument, which is the number for which you want to find the square root. Here’s how you can use it:
|
1 |
=SQRT(A1) |
This formula will return the square root of the number in cell A1. Remember to replace “A1” with the cell reference containing your desired number. You can also use a specific value instead of a cell reference.
Examples
Let’s go through a few examples to see how the SQRT function works:
Example 1: Find the square root of 25.
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1 |
=SQRT(25) |
The result will be 5 because 5 multiplied by itself equals 25.
Example 2: Calculate the square root of a value in cell B2.
|
1 |
=SQRT(B2) |
If the value in cell B2 is, for instance, 16, the formula will return 4 as the square root.
Example 3: You can also use the SQRT function in more complex calculations. For instance, if you want to calculate the hypotenuse of a right triangle given the lengths of its two sides (A and B), you can use the formula:
|
1 |
=SQRT(A1^2 + B1^2) |
This formula will find the square root of the sum of the squares of A1 and B1, which gives you the length of the hypotenuse.
Additional Information
The SQRT function is a fundamental mathematical operation in Excel, useful for various applications, including engineering, physics, statistics, and more.
It’s important to note that if the argument you provide is a negative number, Excel will return a #NUM! error, as the square root of a negative number is not a real number. In such cases, you may want to use the ABS function to ensure you’re working with positive numbers before applying the SQRT function.