What is the square root of 15?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for the square root of 15, which is a mathematical concept involving finding a number that, when multiplied by itself, equals 15.
Answer
3.872
Answer for screen readers
The square root of 15 is approximately 3.872
Steps to Solve
-
Understanding that 15 is not a perfect square
The square root of 15 is not an integer because 15 is not a perfect square. Perfect squares are numbers like 1, 4, 9, 16, etc.
- Using a calculator for accuracy
The most accurate way to find the square root of a non-perfect square like 15 is to use a calculator. $$ \sqrt{15} \approx 3.872 $$
- Expressing the answer in simplest radical form
While the exact square root is not a simple fraction or integer, it can be written in simplest radical form as $$ \sqrt{15} $$
The square root of 15 is approximately 3.872
More Information
Square roots of non-perfect squares are often irrational numbers, which means they cannot be expressed exactly as a fraction or integer, only approximated.
Tips
A common mistake is to try to simplify the square root of a non-perfect square too much, or to incorrectly identify whether a number is a perfect square.
