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Python Tutorial

Square Root in Python

Introduction

Mathematics is the language of the universe, and finding the square root of a number is one of its fundamental operations. Various fields rely on the square root for calculations, from simple arithmetic calculations to complex scientific and engineering calculations. We can perform mathematical operations efficiently with Python in the world of programming. In the ‘math’ module, the sqrt() function allows us to conveniently calculate the square root of a number.

Using the square root function, we will explore the concept of the square root in Python, discover its significance, and unravel its implementation in this tutorial. To provide a hands-on understanding of this vital mathematical operation, we will examine real-world examples, accompanied by screenshots and images.

Overview

A value known as a number's square root is one that, when multiplied by itself, yields the original number. If 'a' is a positive number, its square root is represented in mathematics by the symbol a. It is a number's squared opposite operation. The radical symbol () is used to denote the square root function. Square roots can be numbers that are illogical or rational. Irrational square roots can't be represented as fractions and have decimal expressions that go indefinitely without repeating, whereas rational square roots can be expressed as straightforward fractions.

The square root in Python can be used to get the length of a square whose side equals a given value. It is represented by the math.sqrt() function and provides the result of multiplying the original number by itself. Taking a look at the square root concept briefly before moving on to Python's implementation will help you better understand it. 

What is the Square Root of a Number? 

The square root of a number 'a' is indicated as √a and represents the value 'x' such that x * x = a. It is the inverse action of squaring an integer. For example, the square root of 25 is 5 since 5 * 5 = 25.

In rare circumstances, the square root of a number may not be a whole number. For example, the square root of 2 (√2) is roughly 1.41421356 and continues indefinitely without repetition. These square roots are referred to as irrational numbers. Python's ‘math’ module has the sqrt() function for quickly calculating square roots. Let's get into the procedure details now.

Example 1: Square Root of 9

Since the number in this situation is 9, we must find a number "x" such that x * x = 9.

We know from elementary mathematics that 3 x 3 = 9. Thus, 3 is the square root of 9.

Example 2: Visualizing the Square Root of 2

The square root of 2 cannot be stated as a straightforward fraction because, in contrast to the preceding example, it is an irrational number. Let's look at a few ways to represent the square root of 2:

We can sketch a square with a surface area of 2 square units to determine the square root of 2:

We now need to determine how long each side of this square is. We are aware that side length multiplied by side length equals the area of a square. Here, the area is 2, so we must find an integer 'x' that makes x * x = 2.

There isn't a whole number value for 'x' that can be found to satisfy this equation. It can be roughly calculated as 1.41421356 (rounded to 8 decimal places). This represents the square root of two.

Python sqrt() Function Syntax

Code:

import math
# Get the square root of a number
number = 16
square_root = math.sqrt(number)
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")

Explanation:

In this example, the math.sqrt() function is imported from the math module, and then it's used to calculate the square root of the number 16. The result is printed using an f-string.

Remember that the sqrt() function returns a floating-point number. Make sure to handle input validation and any potential exceptions that might arise when using mathematical functions in your code.

Domain of Python sqrt() Function:

The domain of the sqrt() function in Python, which stands for "square root," includes all non-negative real numbers. This is because the square root of a negative number is not defined within the realm of real numbers.

Here's a simple Python code snippet that demonstrates the domain of the sqrt() function by calculating square roots for a range of non-negative values:

import math
for x in range(0, 11):
    square_root = math.sqrt(x)
    print(f"Square root of {x} is {square_root}")

In this example, the code uses a loop to calculate the square root of each number from 0 to 10. As you can see, the square root function works without issues for non-negative values, producing valid results.

However, attempting to calculate the square root of a negative number using sqrt() will result in a ValueError since square roots of negative numbers are not valid within the real number domain:

import math
try:
    square_root = math.sqrt(-1)
    print(square_root)
except ValueError:
    print("Cannot calculate square root of a negative number.")

When you run this code, you'll see that attempting to calculate the square root of -1 results in a ValueError, which highlights the fact that the square root function is not defined for negative real numbers.

Code:

import math
for x in range(0, 11):
    square_root = math.sqrt(x)
    print(f"Square root of {x} is {square_root}")

Return Type of Python sqrt() Function

The sqrt() function from the math module in Python returns a floating-point number. It calculates the square root of the input value and returns the result as a floating-point number.

Code:

import math
number = 25
square_root = math.sqrt(number)
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")
print(f"The type of square_root is {type(square_root)}")

Explanation:

As shown in the output, the result of the square root calculation (square_root) is of type float. This is consistent with the fact that square roots of most numbers, including integers, often result in non-integer values, hence the need for a floating-point representation.

Various Ways to Calculate Square Root in Python

Using sqrt() Function

Code:

import math
# Get the square root of a number
number = 16
square_root = math.sqrt(number)
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")

Explanation:

In this example, the math.sqrt() function is imported from the math module, and then it's used to calculate the square root of the number 16. The result is printed using an f-string.

Remember that the sqrt() function returns a floating-point number. Make sure to handle input validation and any potential exceptions that might arise when using mathematical functions in your code.

Using pow() Function

Code:

number = 16
square_root = pow(number, 0.5)
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")

Explanation:

In this code, the pow() function is used with the base number and the exponent 0.5 to calculate the square root. The result is stored in the variable square_root and then printed using an f-string.

This approach works because raising a number to the power of 0.5 is equivalent to finding its square root.

Using ** Operator

Code:

number = 16
square_root = number ** 0.5
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")

Explanation:

In this code, the ** operator is used with the base number and the exponent 0.5 to calculate the square root. The result is stored in the variable square_root and then printed using an f-string.

Just like with the pow() function, raising a number to the power of 0.5 using the ** operator is equivalent to finding its square root.

Preferred Method to Find Square Root in Python

Using Python 2.7.16

Method

Time Taken

math.sqrt()

0.543735271683627

math.pow()

2.7523691482161328

** operator

1.60870072153690586

Using Python 3.8.2

Method

Time Taken

math.sqrt()

0.948235034942627

math.pow()

1.2357196807861328

** operator

0.40870046615600586

Another Example of Square Root in Python

Code:

import math
# Input the number for which you want to find the square root
number = float(input("Enter a number: "))
# Calculate the square root using the math.sqrt() function
square_root = math.sqrt(number)
# Print the result
print(f"The square root of {number} is {square_root}")

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we examined the square root idea and demonstrated how to use Square Root in Python to determine the square root of a given number. We talked about the square root's visual representation and why it can occasionally produce irrational numbers. Applications in science, engineering, and data analysis frequently use Python's sqrt() function, which is a potent tool for performing numerous mathematical computations.

Whether you need to find the length of a side in a geometric problem or perform complex mathematical calculations, Python's sqrt() function provides a straightforward and efficient way to compute square roots. Remember to handle negative numbers carefully, as the sqrt() function only works with positive real numbers and zero.

FAQs

1. Can complicated numbers be handled by Square Root in Python? 

No, only positive real values and 0 are compatible with the math module's sqrt() function. The Python cmath package can be used to find the square roots of complex numbers.

2. What happens if I use the sqrt() function with a non-numeric value? 

If you give a non-numeric value, Square Root in Python will throw a TypeError.

3. Is it possible to conduct many square root calculations efficiently? 

Yes, you may use the sqrt() function to multiply the values of a list or an iterable by using list comprehensions or the map() method.

4. How precise is the function Square Root in Python to result in floating points? 

Python's usage of floating-point representation affects how accurate the output is. For the majority of practical reasons, Python normally employs the IEEE 754 double-precision format, which offers a high level of accuracy.

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