Instant Mental Calculation of Square Roots

Learn how to mentally calculate square roots and amaze your friends!


Performance
By learning this simple system you will be able to instantly calculate the square root of the spectator's
number.
Note that calculating square roots is rather more difficult than either cube roots or fifth roots - you
should learn these two procedures first.
Ask the spectator to choose any whole number less than 100 and, using a calculator, to square it by
multiplying the number by itself.
The spectator then calls out the answer, and you instantly reveal the original number (i.e., the square
root).
Note that this method will not work with squares of numbers greater than 99. Also the method only
works when the square root is a natural number (integer).








Step 1: Learn the Squares of 0 to 9
To master the system you must learn by heart the squares of numbers 0 to 9, which are shown in the
table below. You also need to consider the last digit of each square.
Number Square Last Digit
0 0 0
1 1 1
2 4 4
3 9 9
4 16 6
5 25 5
6 36 6
7 49 9

8 64 4
9 81 1
Note how the last digits for the squares of 1 and 9 are both 1.
Note how the last digits for the squares of 2 and 8 are both 4.
Note how the last digits for the squares of 3 and 7 are both 9.
Note how the last digits for the squares of 4 and 6 are both 6.


Step 2: Determine the Square Root
Ignore the last two digits of the number called out by the spectator and choose the memorised square
which is just lower (or equal) to the remaining number. The corresponding square root is the first
digit. of your answer
Now consider the last digit of the number called out by the spectator. If this is 0 or 5, then you
immediately know that the last digit of your answer is also 0 or 5.
In all other cases, the last digit of the number called out will indicate two possible values for the last
digit of the square root. For example, if the last digit is 9, then the square root may end in either 3 or 7.
To determine whether the lower or higher value should be taken, multiply the first digit of your
answer by one greater than itself. If this isgreater than the first part of the number called by the
spectator (i.e., ignoring the last two digits), then the last digit of your answer is the lowerof the two
possible values. Otherwise the last digit is the higher value.
For example if the number called is 2809, the square root could be either 53 or 57. Since 5 x 6 = 30,
and 28 is less than 30, the answer is 53.
Examples
Spectator Calls Ignore Last 2 Lower Square First Digit (a) Last Digit a(a+1) Square Root
144 1 1 1 2 or 8 2 12
784 7 4 2 2 or 8 6 28
1369 13 9 3 3 or 7 12 37
2401 24 16 4 1 or 9 20 49
2809 28 25 5 3 or 7 30 53
3600 36 36 6 0

60
5041 50 49 7 1 or 9 56 71

7396 73 64 8 4 or 6 72 86
8836 88 81 9 4 or 6 90 94