The nth Root
etc!| 2 | √a × √a = a | The square root supplied two times in a multiplication provides the original value. You are watching: How to find nth root on scientific calculator | ||
| 3 | 3√a × 3√a × 3√a = a | The cube root provided three time in a multiplication gives the original value. | ||
| n | n√a × n√a × ... × n√a = a(n the them) | The nth root provided n time in a multiplication offers the initial value. |
The nth source Symbol
This is the distinct symbol that way "nth root", that is the "radical" price (used for square roots) v a little n to average nth root.
Using it
We might use the nth root in a question like this:
Question: What is "n" in this equation?
n√625 = 5
Answer: i just occur to understand that 625 = 54 , for this reason the 4th root of 625 must be 5:
4√625 = 5
Why "Root" ... ?
 | When you view "root" think "I know the tree, but what is the root that created it? " Example: in √9 = 3 the "tree" is 9 , and also the source is 3 . |
Properties
Now we know what an nth root is, let united state look at part properties:
Multiplication and Division
We can "pull apart" multiplications under the root sign favor this:
n√ab = n√a × n√b (Note: if n is also then a and b have to both be ≥ 0)
This can help us leveling equations in algebra, and additionally make some calculations easier:
Example:
3√128 = 3√64×2 = 3√64 × 3√2 = 43√2
for this reason the cube root of 128 simplifies come 4 times the cube source of 2.
It likewise works because that division:
n√a/b = n√a / n√b (a≥0 and b>0)Note the b can not be zero, as we can"t division by zero
Addition and also Subtraction
But we cannot carry out that sort of thing for enhancements or subtractions!
n√a + b ≠ n√a + n√b
n√a − b ≠ n√a − n√b
n√an + bn ≠ a + b
Example: Pythagoras" theorem says
 | a2 + b2 = c2 |
So we calculate c favor this:
c = √a2 + b2
Which is not the same as c = a + b , right?
It is an easy trap to loss into, therefore beware.
It also method that, unfortunately, enhancements and subtractions can be hard to resolve when under a source sign.
Exponents vs Roots
An exponent on one side of "=" have the right to be turned into a source on the various other side the "=":
If an = b climate a = n√b
Note: once n is even then b need to be ≥ 0
nth source of a-to-the-nth-Power
When a value has actually an exponent the n and we take the nth root us get the value earlier again ...
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... As soon as a is positive (or zero): | (when a ≥ 0 ) |
Example:
... Or when the exponent is odd : | (when n is odd ) |
Example:
... But when a is negative and the exponent is even we get this:
Did you see that −3 came to be +3 ?
| ... Therefore we should do this: | (when a |
The |a| means the absolute worth of a, in other words any an unfavorable becomes a positive.
Example:
So that is something come be careful of! Read more at exponents of an unfavorable Numbers
Here the is in a small table:
nth root of a-to-the-mth-Power
What happens once the exponent and also root are various values (m and also n)?
Well, us are permitted to change the order favor this:
n√am = (n√a )m
So this: nth source of (a come the strength m)becomes (nth root of a) come the strength m
But over there is an even an ext powerful method ... Us can combine the exponent and also root to make a new exponent, like this: