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GCSE Maths Number Powers And Roots Square Numbers And Square Roots

Squares And Square Roots

Here we will learn about squares and square roots including what a square number is and what a square root is, as well as how to
square a number and how to find square root of an integer. You’ll also learn how to solve problems by applying knowledge of squares.

There are also squares and square roots worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on
where to go next if you’re still stuck

What is a square number?

Squares, or square numbers, are found when we multiply an integer (whole number) by itself.

E.g.
4 × 4 can be written as 42 and is spoken as “4 squared” or “4 to the power of 2”.

For GCSE Mathematics you need to know squares up to 152 :

1×1=1 Therefore 1 is a square number

2×2=4 Therefore 4 is a square number

3×3=9 Therefore 9 is a square number

4 × 4 = 16 Therefore 16 is a square number

5 × 5 = 25 Therefore 25 is a square number

6 × 6 = 36 Therefore 36 is a square number

7 × 7 = 49 Therefore 49 is a square number

8 × 8 = 64 Therefore 64 is a square number

9 × 9 = 81 Therefore 81 is a square number

10 × 10 = 100 Therefore 100 is a square number

11 × 11 = 121 Therefore 121 is a square number

12 × 12 = 144 Therefore 144 is a square number

13 × 13 = 169 Therefore 169 is a square number

14 × 14 = 196 Therefore 196 is a square number

15 × 15 = 225 Therefore 225 is a square number

A square number can be represented as an array which forms the shape of a square.

E.g.

We can arrange 12 as a square which has side lengths of 1 unit.

 We can arrange 22 as a square which has side lengths of 2 units.

We can arrange 32 as a square with side lengths of 3 units.



We can arrange 42 as a square which has side lengths of 4 units.

E.t.c

What is a square number?

Perfect squares

The square number of an integer is also called a perfect square.

We can square numbers with decimal places but we do not refer to these as square numbers or perfect squares.

A given number or variable that is ‘squared’ is multiplied by itself and this applies to decimals as to integers.

Squaring negative numbers

We can also square negative numbers.

E.g.

(−5) × (−5) = 25 ∴ (−5)2 = 25

(−7) × (−7) = 49 ∴ (−7)2 = 49

When we square a negative number we get a positive number.

This is because a negative number multiplied by a negative number gives us a positive result.
Learn more by reviewing our lesson on negative numbers.

When we square negative 5 we get the same answer as when we square positive 5.
This is true for all numbers (and variables)

E.g.
 42 and (−4)2 both equal 16

102 and (−10)2 both equal 100


x2 and (−x)2 both equal x2

What is a square root?

The square root of a number is a value that can be multiplied by itself to give the original number. For example the square root of 225 is
15

A square root is the inverse operation of squaring a number.

The square root symbol looks like this:

Its mathematical name is the ‘radical’. The square root function only gives us the positive value of the square root. We call this the
principal square root.

When we square a positive number/variable or a negative number/variable we always get a positive answer.

This means when we want the square root a number/variable we get a positive and a negative answer.

The symbol ± means both the positive and negative of the number/variable shown.

E.g.

As 32 = 9 ,the square root of 9 is 3 or − 3 ∴ ±√9 = ±3

As 82 = 64 ,the square root of 64 is 8 or − 8 ∴ ±√64 = ±8

In GCSE mathematics, if asked to find the square root of a number you would only need to give the positive value of a square root which
is the principal square root.

What is a square root?


 Square numbers worksheet

Get your free square numbers worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE

Related lessons on powers and roots

Squares and square roots is part of our series of lessons to support revision on powers and roots. You may find it helpful to start with
the main powers and roots lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual
topics. Other lessons in this series include:

Powers and roots 

Cube numbers and cube roots 

To the power of 

Fractional powers 

Negative powers 

Expressing a power with a different base 

Key words

Term

A single number (constant) or variable.

E.g.
In the expression 4x − 7 both 4x and − 7 are terms

Coefficients

The number which the variable is being multiplied by.

E.g.
In 2x3 the coefficient is 2

Integer

A whole number.

E.g.
1, 7 or 1003

Index (also called exponent or powers)

The index number is the number of times you multiply a number/variable by itself.

E.g.
The index number in 52 is 2
 Note: the plural of index is indices.

Note: you will see index number as a superscript.

Base number

The number/variable that is being multiplied by itself an amount of times.

E.g.
The base number in 52 is 5 and in 2x2 the base number is x

Advanced vocabulary – only for Additional Maths, A-Level

Real numbers

Any positive or negative number is called a real number. Numbers that are not ‘real’ are called imaginary numbers. Integers, decimals,
fractions are all examples of real numbers.

E.g.
1, 2, 5 and 100 are examples of a positive real numbers.

-1, -2, -50 and -65.67 are examples of a negative real numbers.

Imaginary numbers

Numbers that are not real are called imaginary numbers, for example you will notice we cannot find a real square root of a negative
number (try it on a calculator), this because it is an imaginary number. Numbers that contain an imaginary part and real part are called
complex numbers.

Squares and square root examples

Example 1
What is 5 squared?

5 squared means 5 × 5

So, 5 squared is 25.

Example 2

What is 15 squared?

15 squared means 15 × 15

So, 15 squared is 225.

Example 3

What is the positive square root of 64?

The square root of 64 means what value can be multiplied by itself to give 64.

The question only needs the positive answer.

So,
 √64 = 8.

How to use squares and square roots

In order to solve problems involving square numbers and square roots :

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

2 Perform the operation

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question e.g. including units, only the positive value

Squares and square root problems examples

Example 4: knowledge of squares

Martin says 32 = 6. Why is Martin wrong? What mistake did he make?

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

The question focus is on squaring 3 or “3 squared”.

2 Perform the operation

3 × 3 = 32 = 9

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Martin is wrong because 3 squared is 9.

The mistake Martin made was he did ‘3 × 2’ not ‘32’.

Example 5: problem solving with square roots

Daphne says the square root of a number is always smaller than the original number.
Prove Daphne is incorrect.

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

Show step

2 Perform the operation

 Show step

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Show step


Example 6: solving problems involving square numbers

The sum of two square numbers is 61. Find the two square numbers.

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

Show step

2 Perform the operation

Show step

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Show step

Example 7: square numbers within a 2D polygon

A square has an area of 81cm2. What is the length of one side?

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

Show step

2 Perform the operation

Show step

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Show step

Example 8: square numbers within a 2D polygon

The length of one side of a square is 5cm. What is the area of the square?

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

Show step

2 Perform the operation

Show step

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Show step
 Example 9

Rebecca says “when you add three consecutive square numbers, the answer is always odd”.


Is Rebecca right? Explain your answer.

1 Identify whether you need to square or square root the number/variable

Show step

2 Perform the operation

Show step

3 Clearly state the answer within the context of the question

Show step

Common misconceptions
Square numbers

Incorrect understanding of squaring a number.

E.g. 32 = 9 NOT 6

Not knowing the square numbers up to and including 15.

Square roots

Only recognising positive values of square roots of integers.

E.g. When solving an equation of the form x2 = 100 You need to find the postive and negative square roots of 100.

x = ± 100 = ±10 not 10

​

Practice square numbers and square roots questions

1. What is 4 squared?

44

16

2. What is the positive square root of 100?

 10

 10000

50

3. What is 72 ?

14

77

49

70

4. What is x if x2 = 144?

12 and −12

12 and

11 and 12

11 and −11

5. The sum of two square numbers is 29. Find the two square numbers.

1 and 24

4 and 25

4 and 16

9 and 16

6. A square has an area of 225cm2 . What is the length of one side?

 22.5cm

 112.5cm

56.2cm

15cm

Square numbers and square roots GCSE questions

1. Work out the value of: Show answer

(a) 32

(b) 3 × 22

(c) 62 × 22

(3 Marks)

3. Find the value of: Show answer

(a) 25 ​

(b) 144 ​

(c) 400 ​

(3 Marks)

4. Simplify the following expression: Show answer

42 × x2 ​

(2 Marks)

Learning checklist
You have now learned how to:

Calculate square numbers up to 15 × 15

Use positive integer powers and their associated real roots

 Recognise and use the square numbers

Apply properties of squares to a context

The next lessons are

Converting fractions, decimals and percentages 

Standard form 

Simple interest and compound interest 

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