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SQRT function in Google Sheets

Returns the positive square root of a positive number.

=SQRT(value)

SQRT syntax and parameters

One argument, one required.

  • valuenumberRequired

    The number for which to calculate the positive square root. value must be positive; if it is negative, SQRT will return the #NUM! error.

SQRT examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. The square root of a variance is the standard deviation:

    =SQRT(B2)

    Result12.5

  2. The hypotenuse — straight-line distance from two legs:

    =SQRT(B2^2 + C2^2)

    Result5

SQRT in Excel

Same name — your formula ports as-is.

Try SQRT in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the SQRT formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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SQRT errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #NUM!

    The number is negative — wrap it in ABS, or check the sign of the calculation feeding it.

Related functions

More ways Google Sheets gets this done.