How do you find the square root of 85?

1 Answer
Mar 26, 2015

sqrt85 is a non-terminating, non-repeating decimal. You can't finish finding it.
But you can get better and better approximations by: start with a number whose square is close to 85. (9 or 10. 9^2 is closer, so start there.

Now divide 85 by 9 to get 9.4444 (to 4 places)
Average the two numbers 9 and 9.4444
(9+9.4444)/2=9.2222

Repeat:
85-:9.2222=9.2169 (rounded to 4 places)
Average: (9.2222+9.2169)/2=9.2196

Repeat:
85-:9.2196=9.2195 (rounded to 4 places)
Average: (9.2196+9.2195)/2=9.2196

sqrt85~~9.2196

That answer is accurate to 4 decimal places. If you need more accuracy, keep more decimal places at each step.