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Math function
SQRT
Returns the positive square root.
Very commonDifficulty 950 · CapableUsage rank #145 of 520
When to use it
Returns the positive square root. Standard deviations, distances, and RMS errors all end with one.
The shape of it
- Syntax
=SQRT(number)
Worked examples
Plain root
=SQRT(144) → 12
Perfect square.
Non-integer result
=SQRT(2) → 1.414213562
Irrational roots come back to full precision.
Guard against negatives
=SQRT(ABS(A1)) → 4
A1 holds -16. ABS avoids the #NUM! a negative would cause.
Worth knowing
- Distance between two points: =SQRT((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2), or =SQRT(SUMXMY2(...)).
- SQRTPI(x) is SQRT(x*PI()) for normal-distribution math.
- For cube and other roots use POWER with a fractional exponent.
Where it goes wrong
- #NUM! for negative input; wrap in ABS or handle with IF.
- Text arguments that are not numeric return #VALUE!.
Related
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