What is the square root of 20?

The square root of 20 (√20) is an irrational number, meaning it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction. Here's what we know about it:

  • Approximate Value: √20 ≈ 4.4721

  • Simplified Radical Form: We can simplify the radical by factoring 20: 20 = 4 * 5. Since √4 = 2, we can simplify √20 to 2√5. This is its exact form, often preferred in mathematics as it's more precise than a decimal approximation.

  • Irrationality: As mentioned, it's irrational. This means its decimal representation goes on forever without repeating.

  • Relationship to other numbers: It's located between 4 and 5 on the number line, closer to 4. It's also related to other irrational numbers, particularly through its simplified form involving √5.

In short, while we can't write down its exact decimal value, we can represent it precisely as 2√5.