The SQR function returns the square root of a numerical value.

Syntax

square_root = SQR(value)

Description

• The square root returned is normally a SINGLE or DOUBLE numerical value.
• The value parameter can be any positive numerical type. Negative parameter values will not work!
• Other exponential root functions can use fractional exponents([^](^)) enclosed in parenthesis only. EX: root = c ^ (a / b)

Example(s)

Finding the hypotenuse of a right triangle:

 A% = 3: B% = 4
 PRINT "hypotenuse! ="; SQR((A% ^ 2) + (B% ^ 2)) 

 hypotenuse = 5

Finding the Cube root of a number.

number = 8
cuberoot = number ^ (1/3)
PRINT cuberoot 

 2

Negative roots return fractional values of one.

 number = 8
 negroot = number ^ -2
 PRINT negroot 

 .015625

Explanation: A negative root means that the exponent value is actually inverted to a fraction of 1. So x ^ -2 actually means the result will be: 1 / (x ^ 2).

Fast Prime number checker limits the numbers checked to the square root (half way).

DEFLNG P
DO
PRIME = -1   'set PRIME as True
INPUT "Enter any number to check up to 2 million (Enter quits): ", guess$
PR = VAL(guess$)
IF PR MOD 2 THEN              'check for even number
  FOR P = 3 TO SQR(PR) STEP 2 'largest number that could be a multiple is the SQR
    IF PR MOD P = 0 THEN PRIME = 0: EXIT FOR 'MOD = 0 when evenly divisible by another
  NEXT
ELSE : PRIME = 0 'number to be checked is even so it cannot be a prime
END IF
IF PR = 2 THEN PRIME = -1 '2 is the ONLY even prime
IF PR = 1 THEN PRIME = 0  'MOD returns true but 1 is not a prime by definition
IF PRIME THEN PRINT "PRIME! How'd you find me? " ELSE PRINT "Not a prime, you lose!"
LOOP UNTIL PR = 0 

Enter any number to check up to 2 million (Enter quits): 12379
PRIME! How'd you find me?

Note: Prime numbers cannot be evenly divided by any other number except one.

See Also

• MOD (integer remainder division)
• [^](^) (exponential operator)
• Mathematical Operations
• Mathematical Operations