surdA surd is a number or quantity that cannot be expressed as the ratio of two integer s. The term also refers to a symbol (  ) that is sometimes used to indicate that the number or quantity that follows it is a root. The surd symbol, all by itself, indicates the square root (1/2 power). If the surd has a number x written ahead of it and over the horizontal portion, then the symbol refers to the x th root (1/ x power) of that number. Therefore, for example:  indicates the cube root (1/3 power)
 indicates the fourth root (1/4 power)
 indicates the -7th root (-1/7 power)
 indicates the n th root (1/ n power)
The extent of the quantity affected by the surd, and that follows it, is indicated by placing a horizontal line over that quantity. The most common example is the square root symbol . Also see Mathematical Symbols .
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| Last updated on:
Sep 21, 2005 |
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Are you a Know-IT-All?
3.5-inch diskettes are rigid. So why are they called "floppies?"
Answer (Scroll to the second paragraph.)
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