What is the square root of 12?

The square root of 12, denoted as √12, is not a whole number or a simple fraction. Here's what we know about it:

• Approximate Value: √12 is approximately 3.464.

• Simplified Radical Form: We can simplify √12 by factoring 12 into its prime factors: 12 = 2 x 2 x 3 = 2² x 3. Therefore, √12 can be simplified to 2√3. This is considered the simplest radical form because it has no perfect square factors remaining under the radical.

• Irrational Number: √12 is an irrational number. This means it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction (a/b where a and b are integers and b is not zero). Its decimal representation goes on forever without repeating.

• Geometric Interpretation: √12 represents the length of the diagonal of a rectangle with sides of length 2 and √3, or the side length of a square with an area of 12 square units.