Estimating Square Roots - The Basics
When you need to estimate square roots without a calculator, you're essentially playing a clever guessing game. The key is finding the perfect square that's closest to your number.
Let's say you need to find √83. You know that 9² = 81, which is only 2 away from 83. Since 83 is just slightly bigger than 81, √83 must be just over 9 - roughly 9.1.
The method works because you're thinking about where your number sits between two perfect squares. Since the next perfect square after 81 is 100 (which is 10²), and 83 is much closer to 81, your estimate will be just slightly above 9.
Quick Tip: Always identify the perfect squares on either side of your number first - this gives you the "boundaries" for your estimate.
