Question

What is the principal square root of 16

Answer 1

Answer

4

Explanation

The square root of a number always gives two results. One negative and the other one positive.

√16 = -4 also √16 = +4.

This is true because,

(-4)² = 16 and

(+4)² = 16.

When we are looking for the square root if a positive number we are actually interested with the positive root. This is the one referred to as principal square root.

∴ The principal square root of 16 is 4.