taking a square root means simply finding pairs of factors and, when you find a pair, moving one of the pair out of the root sign and eliminating the other SQRT4 = 2 because 4=(2)(2) - we find the pair of factors and move the 2 out of the root sign.
For bigger numbers this can be achieved by finding all the prime factors. I use a factor tree - to find that 576 has 2,2,2,2,2,2,3,3 as factors. If we isoate the pairs and take them out of the square root you get (2)(2)(2)(3) as the square root - or 24 as your answer.
if the number is 1152 - then you have 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,3 - there is one 2 that does not have a pair so the answer would be 24SQRT2 - if you have to solve to a decimal (unlikely on the GMAT) you can memorize your smaller square roots to approximate the answer.
For bigger numbers this can be achieved by finding all the prime factors. I use a factor tree - to find that 576 has 2,2,2,2,2,2,3,3 as factors. If we isoate the pairs and take them out of the square root you get (2)(2)(2)(3) as the square root - or 24 as your answer.
if the number is 1152 - then you have 2,2,2,2,2,2,2,3,3 - there is one 2 that does not have a pair so the answer would be 24SQRT2 - if you have to solve to a decimal (unlikely on the GMAT) you can memorize your smaller square roots to approximate the answer.
Becky
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA
Master GMAT Instructor
The Princeton Review
Irvine, CA













