SQRT Function in Excel
The SQRT function calculates the square root of a positive number in Excel and Google Sheets. Returns the principal square root for mathematical calculations.
Excel
Google SheetsExcelGoogle Sheets=SQRT(number)Practical Examples
Basic Square Root Calculation
Calculate the square root of a simple number
Pythagorean Theorem Application
Calculate the hypotenuse of a right triangle
Standard Deviation Calculation
Calculate population standard deviation from variance
Financial Volatility Calculation
Calculate annualized volatility from daily returns
Error Handling with SQRT
Safely handle negative numbers and errors
Common Errors and Solutions
SQRT cannot calculate square root of negative number
The input number is negative (less than 0)
1. Check if the input value is negative 2. Use ABS() function to convert to positive: =SQRT(ABS(A1)) 3. Add data validation to prevent negative inputs 4. Use IF statement to check before calculation: =IF(A1>=0, SQRT(A1), "N/A")
Always validate that input values are non-negative before applying SQRT. Consider using conditional formatting to highlight negative values.
Example:
SQRT cannot process non-numeric input
The input contains text, spaces, or non-numeric characters
1. Verify the cell contains only numbers 2. Remove any spaces or special characters 3. Use VALUE() to convert text to numbers: =SQRT(VALUE(A1)) 4. Check for hidden characters with LEN() and TRIM()
Format cells as numbers and use data validation to restrict input to numeric values only.
Example:
SQRT references deleted or invalid cells
The referenced cell has been deleted or the reference is invalid
1. Update the formula to reference valid cells 2. Use named ranges for more stable references 3. Check for circular references in your formulas 4. Rebuild the formula with correct references
Use structured references or named ranges instead of direct cell references to prevent reference errors when restructuring spreadsheets.
Example:
Result shows too many decimal places or rounding errors
SQRT of non-perfect squares produces long decimal results
1. Use ROUND function: =ROUND(SQRT(A1), 2) 2. Format cells to show desired decimal places 3. Use TRUNC for truncation: =TRUNC(SQRT(A1), 3) 4. Apply number formatting to control display
Always consider the required precision for your calculations and apply appropriate rounding or formatting.
Example:
Best Practices
In Excel 365 and Google Sheets, use SQRT with dynamic arrays for bulk calculations. Simply apply =SQRT(A1:A100) to calculate square roots for an entire range instantly.
For large datasets with repeated SQRT calculations, consider calculating once and referencing the result. SQRT is computationally intensive, so minimizing redundant calculations improves performance.
Remember that SQRT only works with non-negative numbers. For complex number calculations requiring square roots of negative numbers, Excel doesn't support imaginary numbers natively.
You can also calculate square roots using POWER function: =POWER(A1, 0.5) or the exponential operator: =A1^0.5. However, SQRT is more readable and slightly faster.
Always implement data validation for cells that will be used with SQRT. Set validation rules to allow only numbers ≥ 0 to prevent errors before they occur.
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Example Excel formula:
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