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265, 266.

SQUARE ROOT.

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employed as factors; the cube of 1 is (1X1X1) 1, two figures less than the number employed as factors, and so on. The least root consisting of two figures is 10, whose square is (10×10) 100, which has one figure less than the number of figures in the factors, and whose cube is (10x10x 10 ) 1000, two figures less than the number in the factors; and the same may be shown of the least roots consisting of 3, 4, &c. figures: Again, the greatest root consisting of only one figure, is 9, whose square is (9×981; which has just the number of figures in the factors, and whose cube is (9X9 X9) 729, just equal to the number of figures in the factors; and the greatest root consisting of two figures, is 99, whose square is (99×99=) 9801, &c., and the same may be shown of the greatest roots consisting of 3. 4, &c. figures. Hence it appears that the number of figures in the continued product of any number of factors cannot exceed the number of figures in those factors; nor fall short of the number of figures in the factors by the number of factors, wanting one. From this, it is clear that a square number, or the second power, can have but twice as many figures as its root, and only one less than twice as many; and that the third power can have only three times as many figures as its root, and only two less than three times as many, and so on for the higher powers. Therefore,

265. To discover the number of figures of which any root will consist.

RULE-Beginning at the right hand, distinguish the given number into portions, or periods, by dots, each portion consisting of as many figures as are denoted by the index of the root; by the number of dots will be shown the number of figures of which the root will consist.

EXAMPLES.

1. How many figures in the square, cube, and biquadrate root of 348753421 ?

348753421 square root 5.

348753421 cube root 3. 848752421 biquadrate 3.

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681012.1416 square 5.

681012.141600 cube 4.

In distinguishing decimals, begin at the separatrix and proceed to wards the right hand, and if the last period is incomplete, complete it by annexing the requisite number of ciphers.

EXTRACTION OF THE SQUARE ROOT.

ANALYSIS

266. To extract the square root of a given number is to find a number, which, multiplied by itself, will produce the given number, or it is to find the length of the side of a square of which the given number expresses the area.

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1. If 529 feet of boards be laid down in a square form, what will be the length of the sides of the square? or, in other words, what is the square root of 529 ?

From what was shown (264), we know the root must consist of two figures, in as much as 529 consists of two periods. Now to understand the method of ascertaining these two figures, may be well to consider how the square of a root consisting of two figures is formed. For this pur

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23 23

9 square of units.

60 twice the product of 60 the tens by units. 400 square of the tens.

529 square of 23.

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pose we will take the number 23, and square it. By this operation, it appears that the square of a number consisting of tens and units is made up of the square of the units, plus twice the product of the tens, by the units, plus the square of the tens. See this exhibited in figure F. As 10X10=100, the square of the tens can never make a part of the two right hand figures of the whole square. Hence the square of the tens is always contained in the second period, or in the 5 of the present example. The greatest square in 5 is 4, and its root 2; hence, we conclude, that the tens in the root are 2-20, and 20×20= 400. But as the square of the tens can

never contain significant figures below hundreds, we need only write the square of the figure denoting tens under precedes it appears that 400 of the 529 fee

20 A

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second period. From what of boards are now disposed of E measuring 20 feet on each feet are to be added to this uner as not to alter its form: > this, the additions must be ade upon two des of the square, E-20+ -40 feet. Nif 129, the number of feet to be added, be divided by 40, the length of the additions, or, dropping the cipher and 9, if 12 be divided by 4, the quotient will be the width of the additions; and as 4 in 12 is had 3 times, we conclude the addition will be 3 feet wide, and 40×3 120 feet, the quantity added upon the two sides. But since these additions are no longer than the sides of the square, E, there must be a deficiency at

23 f.

E

20

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400 A.

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20 ft.

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the corner, as exhibited in F, whose sides are equal to the width of the additions, or 3 feet, and 3×39 feet, required to fill out the corner, so as to complete the square. The whole operation may be arranged as on the next page, where it will be seen, that we first find the root of the greatest square in the left hand period, place it in the form of a quotient, subtract the square from the period and to the remainder bring down the next period, which we divide, omitting the right hand figure, by double the root, and place the quotient for the second figure of the root; and the square of this

267

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figure being necessary to preserve the form of the square, by filling the corner, we place it at the right of the divisor, in place of the cipher, which is always understood there, and then multiply the whole divisor by the last figure of the root. As we may conceive every root to be made up of tens and units, the above reasoning may be applied to any number whatever, and may be given in the following general

2323529 proof.

RULE.

267. Distinguish the given numbers into periods; find the root of the greatest square number in the left hand period, and place the root in the manner of a quotient in division, and this will be the highest figure in the root required. Subtract the square of the root already found from the left hand period, and to the remainder bring down the next period for a dividend. Double the root already found for a divisor; seek how many times the divisor is contained in the dividend (excepting the right hand figure), and place the result for the next figure in the root, and also on the right of the divisor. Multiply the aivisor by the figure in the root last found; subtract the proauct from the dividend, and to the remainder bring down the next period for a new dividend. Double the root now found for a divisor, and proceed, as before, to find the next figure of the root, and so on, till all the periods are brought down.

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the side of a square, which | ameter of a circle 4 times as shall contain an acre, or 160 Ans, 24. rods? Ans. 12,649+ rods,

11. The area of a circle is 234.09 rods; what is the length of the side of a square of equal area?

Ans. 15.3 rods.

12. The area of a triangle is 44944 feet; what is the length of the side of an equal square? Ans. 212 feet.

large?

Circles are to one another as the squares of their diameter; therefore square the given diameters, multiply or divide it by the given proportion, as the required diameters is to be greater or less than the given diam. eter, and the square root of the product, or quoticut, will be the diameter required!

14. The diameter of a circle is 121 feet; what is the diam

13. The diameter of a circle | eter of a circle une half as is 12 inches; what is the di- | large? Ans. 85,5+ feet,

268. Having two sides of a right angled triangle given to find the other side,

RULE. Square the two given sides, and if they are the two sides which include the right angle, that is, the two shortest sides, add them together, and the square root of the sum will be the length of the longest side; if not, the two shortest; sub. tract the square of the less from that of the greater, and the square root of the remainder will be the length of the side re quired. (See demonstration, Part I. Art, 68.)

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2. Suppose a man travel east 40 miles (from A to C), and then turn and travel north 30 miles (from C to B); how far is he from the place (A) where he started? Ans. 50 miles.

3. A ladder 48 feet long will just reach from the opposite side of a ditch, known to be 35 feet wide, to the top of a fort; what is the height of the fort? Ans. 32.8+ feet.

4. A ladder 40 feet long, with the foot planted in the same place, will just reach a window on one side of the street 33 feet from the ground,

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and one on the other side of the street, 21 feet from the ground; what is the width of the street?

Ans. 56.64 feet.

5. A line 81 feet long, will exactly reach from the top of a fort, on the opposite bank of a river, known to be 69 feet broad; the height of the wall is required.

Ans. 42.426 feet.

6. Two ships sail from the same port, one goes due east 150 miles, the other due north 252 miles; how far are they asunder? Ans. 293.26 miles.

269. To find a mean proportional between two numbers. RULE-Multiply the two given numbers together, and the square root of the product will be the mean proportional sought.

QUESTIONS FOR PRACTICE.

1. What is the mean proportional between 4 and 36? 36X4 144 and ✔/144—12 Ans.

Then 4 12 :: 12: 36.

2. What is the mean pro portional between 49 and 64 ? Ans. 56.

3. What is the mean proportional between 16 and 64? Ans. 32.

EXTRACTION OF THE CUBE ROOT,

ANALYSIS.

270. To extract the cube root of a given number, is to find a number which, multiplied by its square, will produce the given number, or it is to And the length of the side of a cube of which the given number expresses the content.

1. I have 12167 solid feet of stone, which I wish to lay up in a cubical pile; what will be the length of the sides? or, in other words, what is the

cube root of 12167 1

By distinguishing 12167 into periods, we find the root will consist of two figures (265). Since the cube of tens (264) can contain no significant figures less than thousands, the cube of the tens in the root must be found in the left hand period. The greatest cube in 12 is 8, whose root is %,

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