Square Roots

Using Materials

Problem: “Zoë builds a large square from 16 small square tiles.

How big is Zoë’s square?”

Get the students to build the large square out of 16 tiles. Then discuss its size. (Answer: 4 rows of 4 tiles.)

Examples: Build large squares built with these numbers of small squares and give their size: 4, 25, 9

Using Imaging

Problem: “Zoë builds a large square from 36 small square tiles. Imagine how big the square is.”

Fold back to building the square if needed. (Answer: 6 by 6.)

Examples : Imagine large squares with these numbers of small squares and find their sizes: 49,  100,  81 ...

Using Number Properties

Problem: “Zoë builds a large square from 961 small square tiles. Describe the square Zoë builds with the aid of a calculator.”

Discuss how √x or the √ or the button helps. (Answer: = √961 = 31.)

Examples: Large squares are made with these numbers of small squares. Describe the large squares: 207 936,  2 025,  622 521,  2 217 121 ...