Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Square Root of 48 Explained with Simplified Radical Form

ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon

How to Simplify the Square Root of 48 Using Prime Factorization and Decimal Method

The concept of square root of 48 is essential in mathematics and helps in solving real-world and exam-level problems efficiently. Understanding how to simplify the square root of 48 helps students tackle homework, board exam questions, and competitive maths problems with confidence.


Understanding Square Root of 48

A square root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. The square root of 48 is written as √48. This concept appears in simplifying roots, solving quadratic equations, geometry, and surds. Square roots are especially useful in areas such as area calculations, Pythagoras theorem applications, and algebraic manipulation.


Value and Notation of Square Root of 48

The square root of 48 can be written in both radical and decimal form:

√48 (radical form)
4√3 (simplest radical form)
6.928 (decimal, rounded to three decimal places)

This means \( \sqrt{48} = 4\sqrt{3} \approx 6.928 \).


Here’s a helpful table to understand the square root of 48 and its comparison to nearby values:


Square Root of 48 Table

Form Value Perfect Square?
√48 (radical form) 4√3 No
√49 7 Yes
√36 6 Yes
√48 (decimal approx) 6.928 No

This table helps you see that the square root of 48 is not a perfect square, and how its value fits between perfect squares.


How to Simplify Square Root of 48: Step-by-Step

Let's break down the simplification of the square root of 48 step by step for clarity:

1. Start with the number 48.

2. Find its prime factors:
48 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3

3. Pair the similar factors under the root:
√48 = √(2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3)

4. Take pairs out of the square root:
(2 × 2) = 4 comes outside, the 3 remains inside.

5. So, you get:
√48 = 4√3

6. Using √3 ≈ 1.732,
4 × 1.732 = 6.928

Final Answer:
√48 = 4√3 ≈ 6.928


Is 48 a Perfect Square?

No, 48 is not a perfect square because there is no integer that when multiplied by itself gives exactly 48. Its square root cannot be expressed as a whole number. Instead, the square root of 48 simplifies to a surd, which is 4√3.


Worked Example – Square Root Using the Division Method

Let’s find the square root of 48 using the long division method step-by-step:

1. Write 48.000000 for precision, pairing digits from right to left.

2. The closest square less than or equal to 48 is 6×6=36.
Subtract 36 from 48 (48-36=12).

3. Bring down the next pair of zeros to make 1200.
Double 6 to get 12. Now guess a digit X, such that (120+X)×X ≤ 1200.

4. 129×9=1161 (which fits).
Subtract: 1200-1161=39.

5. Bring down next pair of zeros (3900). Double previous result (69), get 138.
Try digit Y: (1380+2)×2=2764; 3900-2764=1136.

6. Continue the process for higher decimal accuracy.

7. After three decimal places, we get the answer: 6.928

You can practice all steps for other numbers using the full method on the page Square Root by Division Method.


Practice Problems

  • Simplify the square root of 12 in radical form.
  • Is the square root of 49 a whole number? Why?
  • Find the approximate value of square root of 11 using step-by-step division.
  • Write 48 as a product of its prime factors and verify the radical simplification.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Stopping after writing √48 = 4√3 but not calculating the decimal value for checking.
  • Forgetting to pair the factors inside the radical correctly.
  • Confusing square roots with cube roots—remember, √48 ≠ ∛48.

Real-World Applications

You may encounter the square root of 48 in real life when working with square areas (such as finding side length if area is 48 square units), or while using the Pythagoras theorem in geometry problems. The concept also appears in algebra, physics, and architectural planning. Vedantu helps students connect such maths concepts to real-world situations through examples and practice problems.


We explored the idea of the square root of 48, saw how to simplify it, found its exact radical and approximate decimal forms, and reviewed stepwise solutions. Keep practising these simplifications and methods with Vedantu, and use stepwise logic whenever you work with square roots in school or exams.


Explore Related Topics

FAQs on Square Root of 48 Explained with Simplified Radical Form

1. What is the square root of 48 in simplest radical form?

The square root of 48 in simplest radical form is 4√3.

  • Factor 48 = 16 × 3
  • Take the square root: √48 = √(16 × 3)
  • √16 = 4, so √48 = 4√3
This process is called simplifying a radical by factoring out perfect squares.

2. What is the decimal value of √48?

The decimal value of √48 is approximately 6.928.

  • √48 = 4√3
  • √3 ≈ 1.732
  • 4 × 1.732 ≈ 6.928
This is a non-terminating, non-repeating decimal because √48 is an irrational number.

3. How do you simplify the square root of 48 step by step?

To simplify √48, factor out the largest perfect square and rewrite the radical.

  • Step 1: Find a perfect square factor of 48 → 16
  • Step 2: Write 48 = 16 × 3
  • Step 3: √48 = √(16 × 3)
  • Step 4: √16 = 4
  • Final Answer: √48 = 4√3
This method is used to simplify any square root.

4. Is the square root of 48 a rational or irrational number?

The square root of 48 is an irrational number.

  • √48 = 4√3
  • √3 is irrational because it cannot be written as a fraction
  • Multiplying by 4 keeps it irrational
Its decimal form (6.928...) does not terminate or repeat.

5. Can √48 be simplified further?

No, √48 cannot be simplified further after writing it as 4√3.

  • 48 = 16 × 3
  • 16 is the largest perfect square factor
  • 3 has no perfect square factors other than 1
Therefore, 4√3 is the simplest radical form.

6. What are the factors of 48 used to simplify its square root?

The key factors of 48 used to simplify √48 are 16 and 3.

  • Factors of 48: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48
  • Perfect square factors: 1, 4, 16
  • Largest perfect square factor: 16
Using 16 allows √48 to simplify to 4√3.

7. What is √48 as a product of two square roots?

The square root of 48 can be written as √16 × √3.

  • 48 = 16 × 3
  • √48 = √16 × √3
  • √16 = 4
So, √48 = 4√3 using the product rule √(a × b) = √a × √b.

8. What is the square of 4√3?

The square of 4√3 is 48.

  • (4√3)² = 4² × (√3)²
  • = 16 × 3
  • = 48
This confirms that 4√3 is the correct simplified form of √48.

9. How do you approximate √48 without a calculator?

You can approximate √48 by comparing it to nearby perfect squares.

  • 36 < 48 < 49
  • √36 = 6 and √49 = 7
  • 48 is close to 49, so √48 ≈ 6.9
For a better estimate, use 4√3 with √3 ≈ 1.732 to get about 6.928.

10. What is the difference between √48 and 48²?

√48 is approximately 6.928, while 48² equals 2304.

  • √48 means a number that when squared gives 48
  • 48² means 48 × 48
  • 48² = 2304
The square root and squaring are inverse operations in mathematics.