How to find the square root of 256? What is the square root of 256?

The square root of 256 is 16. The square root of any number is just the inversion of squaring the given number. The number when multiplied twice gives the original value.

For the given number 256, when the number 16 is squared 16² or when multiplied twice by 16×16 we get 256. For a perfect square number like 256 finding the square root of the number is simple as they are whole numbers and not integers.

Long division is used to find the square root of irrational and non-perfect square numbers. Since 256 can be the ratio of two numbers it is a rational number
p/q, q = 0.
There are three methods that are used to find the square root of a number that has perfect squares,

• Long division method
• Repeated subtraction method
• Prime factorization method

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Long division method

• Step 1: Find the smallest integer that can divide the number. 
  256 is not a perfect root number and 16 is the nearest number that can divide it. 
• Step 2: Keep following the long division using divisor and dividend. 

• Step 3: When the particular number of satisfaction is reached the quotient is the square root of the number.
• Hence, √256 = 16.

Repeated subtraction method

Using the repeated subtraction method, the square root of the number can be easily solved but consumes time. Hence, the prime factorization and the long division method are widely used to find the square root of the number. Start subtracting the given number by the first odd number, take the given value, and further subtract the number with the next odd number repeat the step until you reach zero. 

Step 1	256-1	255
Step 2	255-3	252
Step 3	252-5	247
Step 4	247-7	240
Step 5	240-9	231
Step 6	231-11	220
Step 7	220-13	207
Step 8	207-15	192
Step 9	192-17	175
Step 10	175-19	156
Step 11	156-21	135
Step 12	135-23	112
Step 13	112-25	87
Step 14	87-27	60
Step 15	60-29	31
Step 16	31-31	0

Prime factorization method

Prime factorization is one of the simplest methods used to find the square root of a given number. Take the prime factor of the number as n square the given number we get n², take a single value, and multiply with the other square. By doing so we will get the square root of the number.

• Step 1: Find the prime factor for the given number
  256 = 2×2×2×2×2×2×2×2
• Step 2: Pair the prime factors.
  256 = (2×2)(2×2)(2×2)(2×2)
  Take square on both sides
  √256=√2×√2×√2×√2
  You can cancel the square with the square root we get
  √256 = 2×2×2×2
• Step 3: Multiply the factors
  The √256 = 2×2×2×2
  √256 = 16

Solved Examples

Example 1: What is the sum of the square of 256 and the square root of 256?
Solution:
Square of 256= 65,536
The square root of √256 = 16
The sum of the square of 256 and the square root of 256 = 65,536+16 = 65,552

Example 2: Joel wants to find the square root value of 4/256 to help him solve the sum
Solution:
The √256 = 16.
The √4 = 2
Therefore, the √4/256 = 2/16 = 1/8.

Example 3: Solve √256 + 2 √256
Solution:
The √256 = 16.
Hence 16 + 2 (16).
= 16+32
=48.

Example 4: What is the area of the square whose each side is equal to 16 cm
Solution:
Area of the square = x²
Here x= 16
Therefore, 16² = 16×16 = 256
Hence the area of the square with 16 cm = 256 sq. cm.

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FAQs on the square root of 256