Square Root in Excel | Calculate Square Root using SQRT Formula

Square Root Formula in Excel (SQRT)

Square Root function is an inbuilt arithmetic function in excel which is used to calculate square root of a given number, to use this function we need to type the keyword =SQRT and press tab button which will pop up the SQRT function for us, this function takes a single argument.

SQRT in excel is one of the many MATH & TRIGNOMETRY function in excel. The square root of a number that we get when we multiply the number with the same number itself.

For example, the square root of a number 25 is 5, because if we multiply the number 5 with 5 we will get a value 25.

We can also write the equation this way as well.

5²

If you are a newbie to mathematics you may think 5*2 which will return the result as 10. But the above equation will be solved like this

5 * 5 = 25.

Negative Square

Square root works for negative numbers as well. Now, look at the below examples.

If the number -6 is squared we will get a positive number of 36.

-6 * -6 = +36. As per the mathematics rule if we multiply the negative sign with the negative sign we will get a positive number.

And off course 6 * 6 = 36 as well.

Popular Course in this category

All in One Excel VBA Bundle (35 Courses with Projects)4.9 (1,353 ratings) 35+ Courses | 120+ Hours | Full Lifetime Access | Certificate of Completion

View Course

So the square root of 36 is either 6 or -6.

Square Root in excel no brainer it works exactly the same way too. With manual calculation, we need some calculators to do the task. But in excel it’s just a supply of the number to the formula called SQRT in Excel

Syntax

Number: This is the only parameter the SQRT function has. We need to supply the number that we are trying to find the square root value.

One important thing we need to remember here that the square root formula can return the result only for positive numbers. If we supply the negative number we will get #NUM! Error.

How to Calculate Square Root (SQRT) in Excel? (With Examples)

In excel we can calculate the square root not only by using the square root but we have several other ways too.

You can download this Square Root Excel Template here – Square Root Excel Template

Example #1

I have a list of numbers. We need to find the square root value.

Copy these numbers to excel.

Open the formula in B2 cell.

Now select the required cell i.e. A2 in this case.

Now drag and drop the formula to remaining cells.

Example #2

In the earlier section of this article, I have mentioned that the square root in excel formula can work only for positive numbers. If we supply the negative number we will get #NUM! Error.

But we can apply another formula with SQRT function to get this done. Now, look at the below negative numbers.

I have applied the SQRT Excel Function at this point in time and I got #NUM! Errors due to negative numbers.

To solve this issue first we need to convert all the negative numbers into positive ones. So I am going to use ABS function which can return the absolute value of a negative number. We don’t need to apply this formula separately rather we can nest this formula inside the SQRT function itself.

Firstly ABS function will convert the negative number to a positive number and the SQRT excel function will work fine because of the positive number supplied by the ABS function.

Example #3

We have learned how to calculate the square root number in excel formula. But we can find the square of the number too.

Now, look at the below numbers.

If I multiply the 6 with 6 I will get 36 as the result i.e. the square root of a number 36 is 6. But we don’t have any special formula to calculate the square value but still, we can do this and that is the power of Excel.

By using an exponential symbol we can solve this problem.

Things to Remember

SQRT function can accept only numbers. If you supply anything other than the numerical value we will get #VALUE! error
SQRT function accepts only positive numbers. If you supply negative numbers it will return the result as #NUM!
In order to insert the square root symbol hold the ALT key and type 251 from number keypad.

Square Root in Excel (SQRT)