Square Root of 254

The square root is the inverse of the square of a number. 254 is not a perfect square. The square root of 254 is expressed in both radical and exponential form. In the radical form, it is expressed as √254, whereas (254)^(1/2) in the exponential form. √254 ≈ 15.93738, which is an irrational number because it cannot be expressed in the form of p/q, where p and q are integers and q ≠ 0.
 

The prime factorization method is used for perfect square numbers. However, the prime factorization method is not used for non-perfect square numbers, where the long-division method and approximation method are used. Let us now learn the following methods:

• Prime factorization method
• Long division method
• Approximation method

The product of prime factors is the prime factorization of a number. Now let us look at how 254 is broken down into its prime factors:

Step 1: Finding the prime factors of 254 Breaking it down, we get 2 x 127.

Step 2: Now we have found the prime factors of 254. The second step is to make pairs of those prime factors. Since 254 is not a perfect square, the digits of the number can’t be grouped into pairs.

Therefore, calculating √254 using prime factorization is not possible.

The long division method is particularly used for non-perfect square numbers. In this method, we should check the closest perfect square number for the given number. Let us now learn how to find the square root using the long division method, step by step:

Step 1: To begin with, we need to group the numbers from right to left. In the case of 254, we need to group it as 54 and 2.

Step 2: Now we need to find n whose square is 2. We can say n as ‘1’ because 1 x 1 is lesser than or equal to 2. Now the quotient is 1; after subtracting 1 x 1 from 2, the remainder is 1.

Step 3: Now let us bring down 54, which is the new dividend. Add the old divisor with the same number 1 + 1, we get 2, which will be our new divisor.

Step 4: The new divisor will be the sum of the dividend and quotient. Now we get 2n as the new divisor, we need to find the value of n.

Step 5: The next step is finding 2n × n ≤ 154. Let us consider n as 7, now 27 x 7 = 189, which is too large, so try n = 5, then 25 x 5 = 125.

Step 6: Subtract 125 from 154; the difference is 29, and the quotient is 15.

Step 7: Since the dividend is less than the divisor, we need to add a decimal point. Adding the decimal point allows us to add two zeroes to the dividend. Now the new dividend is 2900.

Step 8: Now we need to find the new divisor, which is 319, because 319 x 9 = 2871.

Step 9: Subtracting 2871 from 2900, we get the result, 29.

Step 10: Now the quotient is 15.9.

Step 11: Continue doing these steps until we get two numbers after the decimal point. Suppose if there are no decimal values, continue till the remainder is zero.

So the square root of √254 ≈ 15.94.

The approximation method is another method for finding square roots. It is an easy method to find the square root of a given number. Now let us learn how to find the square root of 254 using the approximation method.

Step 1: Now we have to find the closest perfect square of √254. The smallest perfect square less than 254 is 225, and the largest perfect square greater than 254 is 256. √254 falls somewhere between 15 and 16.

Step 2: Now we need to apply the formula that is (Given number - smallest perfect square) / (Greatest perfect square - smallest perfect square). Going by the formula (254 - 225) ÷ (256 - 225) ≈ 0.935. Using the formula, we identified the decimal point of our square root. The next step is adding the value we got initially to the decimal number, which is 15 + 0.935 ≈ 15.935, so the square root of 254 is approximately 15.935.

• Square root: A square root is the inverse of a square. Example: 4² = 16 and the inverse of the square is the square root, that is √16 = 4.
   
• Irrational number: An irrational number is a number that cannot be written in the form of p/q, where q is not equal to zero and p and q are integers.
   
• Principal square root: A number has both positive and negative square roots; however, it is always the positive square root that has more prominence due to its uses in the real world. That is the reason it is also known as the principal square root.
   
• Decimal: If a number has a whole number and a fraction in a single number, then it is called a decimal, for example: 7.86, 8.65, and 9.42 are decimals.
   
• Prime factorization: Prime factorization is the process of expressing a number as the product of its prime factors.