Ti 83 Calculator Square Root Function

How to Use the Square Root Function

Using the square root function on your TI-83 calculator is straightforward. Follow these steps to calculate square roots:

1. Turn on your TI-83 calculator and press the 2ND key to access the secondary functions.
2. Press the √x key (located in the upper right corner of the calculator). This will display "√(" on the screen.
3. Enter the number for which you want to calculate the square root. For example, if you want to find the square root of 25, type "25".
4. Press the ) key to close the parentheses.
5. Press the ENTER key to calculate the result. The calculator will display the square root of the number you entered.

For example, to find the square root of 25:

The calculator will display:

This means that the square root of 25 is 5.

Square Root Formula

The square root of a number x is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives x. Mathematically, this is represented as:

Where:

• √x is the square root of x
• y is the result of the square root calculation

For example, the square root of 16 is 4 because 4 × 4 = 16.

Worked Examples

Let's look at a few examples of how to use the square root function on your TI-83 calculator.

Example 1: Finding the Square Root of 36

1. Press 2ND then √x to access the square root function.
2. Enter "36" and press ).
3. Press ENTER to calculate.

The calculator will display:

This means that the square root of 36 is 6.

Example 2: Finding the Square Root of 144

1. Press 2ND then √x to access the square root function.
2. Enter "144" and press ).
3. Press ENTER to calculate.

The calculator will display:

This means that the square root of 144 is 12.

Example 3: Finding the Square Root of 0.25

1. Press 2ND then √x to access the square root function.
2. Enter "0.25" and press ).
3. Press ENTER to calculate.

The calculator will display:

This means that the square root of 0.25 is 0.5.

Tips and Common Mistakes

Using the square root function on your TI-83 calculator is simple, but there are a few tips and common mistakes to keep in mind:

Tip 1: Remember to Close Parentheses

After entering the number for which you want to calculate the square root, make sure to press the ) key to close the parentheses. Forgetting to do this will result in an error message.

Tip 2: Use the Principal Square Root

The TI-83 calculator only calculates the principal (non-negative) square root. If you need to find the negative square root, you can multiply the result by -1.

Common Mistake 1: Entering Negative Numbers

The TI-83 calculator cannot calculate the square root of negative numbers. If you enter a negative number, the calculator will display an error message.

Common Mistake 2: Forgetting to Press ENTER

After entering the number and closing the parentheses, make sure to press the ENTER key to calculate the result. Forgetting to do this will leave the calculator in a waiting state.