GED Math Practice Test

What is the definition of a square root?

1. A number that when added to itself equals a given number

2. A number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number

3. A number that is divisible by 2

4. The power of a base number

The correct answer is: A number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number

The definition of a square root is correctly stated as a number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number. For example, if you take the number 4, its square root is 2 because 2 times 2 equals 4. This highlights that square roots are fundamentally linked to the concept of multiplication and finding a value that, when squared, returns to the original number. In contrast, the other options provided do not align with the definition of a square root. The first option references addition, mentioning a number that added to itself equals a specific value, which relates to different arithmetic properties. The third option talks about divisibility by 2, which pertains to even numbers rather than square roots. Lastly, the fourth option refers to powers and exponents, focusing on the operation of raising a base number to a certain power rather than the process of finding a square root.