How to write the square root symbol in LaTeX?

This article aims to show you the simplest and easiest way to write the square root symbol in LaTeX.

If you work with LaTeX you probably know the square root, and today you will learn how to insert it in your document.

Square Root Symbol

The square root of some number a is another number b whose square is a, that being said, multiplying b twice results in a, b^2 = a. To represent square roots we use what is called the radical sign or radix, which is 

Square Root in LaTeX

In LaTeX luckily you don’t need packages for the square root. You call the square root command in math mode, by writing \sqrt{}. This command takes one value as argument, for example

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
    $$\sqrt{4} = 2$$
    $$\sqrt{X} = Z$$
\end{document}

The square root is also used to solve a quadratic equation

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
    For $ax^2 + bx + c$ we have \\
    \vspace{5pt}
    $x = \dfrac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}$
\end{document}

Nth Root

As you probably already know, the root of numbers are not limited to the square root, we also have the cube root or the nth root of some number. 

For the cubic and nth root the command adds another parameter, the command is \sqrt[#1]{#2} now it takes two arguments, #1 refers to the root value or the root power and #2 to the argument inside the root (the expression).

For example,

\documentclass{article}
\begin{document}
    $$\sqrt[3]{27} = 3 \rightarrow 3^3 = 27$$
    $$\sqrt[n]{x} = y \rightarrow y^3 = x$$
\end{document}

Now you know how the LaTeX code for the square, cube and nth root. It is time to put the knowledge into practice. 

I hope you found this tutorial helpful, and as always keep writing in LaTeX. 

All the images were created in LaTeX by: “name of the author”

Further Reading

LaTex Tutorial on Symbols

1. How To Create A Cross Product Symbol In LaTeX
2. How to create a hat symbol in LaTeX?
3. How to create a prime symbol in LaTeX?
4. How to create an absolute value symbol in LaTeX?
5. How to create an approximate symbol in LaTeX?
6. How to create an intersection symbol in LaTeX?
7. How to create the empty set symbol in LaTeX?
8. How to write a degree symbol in LaTeX?
9. How to write a dot product in LaTeX?
10. How to Write a Greater Than Symbol in LaTeX?
11. How to write a norm symbol in LaTeX?
12. How to write A Plus-Minus Symbol in LaTeX
13. How to write a proportional to symbol in LaTeX?
14. How to write a real number symbol in LaTeX?
15. How to write a tilde symbol in LaTeX?
16. How to write a union symbol in LaTeX?
17. How to write a vector in LaTeX?
18. How to write an infinity symbol in LaTeX?
19. How to write bold text in LaTeX?
20. How To Write Dots Symbols In LaTeX?
21. How to write the arrow symbols in LaTeX
22. How to write the Degree celsius symbol in LaTeX?
23. How to write the equal or not equal symbol in LaTeX?
24. How to write the Euro symbol in LaTeX?
25. How to write the floor symbol in LaTeX?
26. How to write the gradient operator symbol in LaTeX
27. How To Write The Greater Than Or Equal To Symbol In LaTeX?
28. How to write the integer number symbol in LaTeX?
29. How to write the less than symbol in LaTeX?
30. How to write the Natural numbers symbol in LaTeX?
31. How to write the parallel symbol in LaTeX?
32. How to write the percent symbol in LaTeX?
33. How To Write The Symbol For A Subset In LaTeX?
34. How to write the symbol for therefore in LaTeX?
35. How to write with the mathbb in LaTeX?