How do you square root a whole number in Python?

You can square root a whole number in Python using the math.sqrt() function, the exponent operator **, or the built-in pow() function.

Methods for Square Rooting in Python

Here are three common methods to calculate the square root of a whole number in Python:

1. Using the math.sqrt() function

This is the most straightforward and readable approach. First, you need to import the math module. Then, you can call the sqrt() function.

import math

number = 25
square_root = math.sqrt(number)
print(square_root)  # Output: 5.0

2. Using the Exponent Operator **

You can calculate the square root by raising the number to the power of 0.5 (which is the same as taking the square root).

number = 25
square_root = number ** 0.5
print(square_root)  # Output: 5.0

3. Using the pow() function

The pow() function can also be used to raise a number to a given power.

number = 25
square_root = pow(number, 0.5)
print(square_root)  # Output: 5.0

Choosing the Right Method

• math.sqrt(): Best for readability and explicit square root calculation.
• ``:** Concise and commonly used, especially for simple calculations.
• pow(): More versatile for raising to arbitrary powers, but less readable for square roots specifically.

All three methods will return a floating-point number as the square root, even if the original number was an integer and the square root is a whole number.