Syntax
SQRT(number)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| number | Parameter of the SQRT function. |
Examples
Basic square root
Formula
=SQRT(144)
Returns: 12 — the square root of 144
Distance between two points
Formula
=SQRT((A2-C2)^2 + (B2-D2)^2)
Returns: 5 — the Euclidean distance between points (0,0) and (3,4)
Standard error calculation
Formula
=STDEV(B2:B100)/SQRT(COUNT(B2:B100))
Returns: the standard error of the mean — standard deviation divided by the square root of sample size
Common Errors
#NUM!
The argument is negative. You cannot take the square root of a negative number. Use ABS() if you need the square root of the magnitude.
#VALUE!
The argument is text, not a number. Ensure the cell contains a numeric value.
Tips
SQRT vs POWER
SQRT(x) is identical to POWER(x, 0.5) or x^0.5. Use whichever is more readable in your context.
Handle negatives
=SQRT(ABS(A1)) avoids #NUM! errors by taking the square root of the absolute value.
Perfect square check
=INT(SQRT(A1))^2=A1 returns TRUE if A1 is a perfect square (like 4, 9, 16, 25...).
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