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Finding one of two equal factors of a number is called finding the square root.

Definition: The principal square root of a positive real number is the positive square root of the number. A perfect square is a positive rational number whose principal square root is a rational number.

Examine : The symbol is called a radical.  is called a radical sign. The number under the radical sign is called the radicand. 49 is the radicand of

In general, for any real number a, a ² is positive and
 Product Property for Square Roots: For all real numbers a and b, where both are greater than or equal to 0,
* =
If the radicand is not a perfect square, the square is an irrational number. To simplify such a radical, find the greatest perfect square factor of the radicand. Then use the product property.

Examples:
a.)  = 3

b.)  = *
      3