SOLUTION: How can I find the square root of 456 using the trial divisor method

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Question 51694: How can I find the square root of 456 using the trial divisor method
Answer by AnlytcPhil(1806) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
How can I find the square root of 456 using the 
trial divisor method?

-------------------------------------------------

Write 456 as 456.000000.  Then group it into pairs
of digits, right and left of the decimal, Consider
the introductory 4 to be the pair of digits 04. Each
SINGLE digit of the answer will be placed over a PAIR
of digits.
           .  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
        
The largest digit that does not exceed the square root
of the digit pair 04 is 2, so write 2 above the pair of 
digits 04. 

       2               
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00

Square 2, getting 04.  Write it below the pair of digits 04
Draw a line under it

       2   .    
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
      04
      ---

Subtract getting 00 then bring down the next pair of digits
56. Draw a vertical line to the left of 00 56

       2   .  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
      04
      ---
     |00 56
            
So far we have 2 in the answer.  Multiply 2 by 20. (Double it
and annex a 0).  This gives 40.  Write the 40 to the left of
the vertical line:

       2   .            
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56

40 is the TRIAL divisor.  Divide 40 into "00 56" (interpreted as
just 56).  It goes 1+ times, so write 1 as the next digit in the 
answer.

       2  1.  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
                             
Now to get the ACTUAL divisor, add the 1 to the the trial divisor,
getting 41, and write this actual divisor under the 40 and place
another vertical line to the right of it.


       2  1.  
      ---------------
     | 4 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|   
         
Multiply the 1 times the ACTUAL divisor, getting 41. Write it
as "00 41" and write it beside the vertical line at the bottom
underneath the 00 56. Draw a line underneath and subtract, getting
15.  Then bring down the next pair of digits 00. Then draw a 
vertical line to the left of the 15.     


       2  1.  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|00 41
      -----
        |15  00
                   
The digits in the answer so far are 21.  So multiply this by 20
(Double 21, getting 42, then annex a 0 to get 420).  Write 420
left of the vertical line.  420 is the next TRIAL divisor. 

       2  1.    
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|   41
      -----
    420| 15  00
                 

Divide the TRIAL divisor 420 into "15 00" (interpreted as
1500).  It goes 3+ times, so write 3 as the next digit in the 
answer.

       2  1.  3    
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|   41
      -----
    420| 15  00


Now to get the next ACTUAL divisor, add the 3 to the the trial divisor,
getting 423, and write this actual divisor under the 420 and place
another vertical line to the right of it.

       2  1.  3  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|00 41
      -----
    420| 15  00
    423| 
     
Now multiply the 3 times the ACTUAL divisor, 423, getting 1296, and
write it as "12 96" underneath the "15 00" and subtract, getting 231.
So write this as "02 31", and draw a vertical line left of it 

       2  1.  3  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|00 41
      -----
    420| 15  00
    423| 12  69
        -------
        |02  31 

The digits in the answer so far are 213.  So multiply this by 20
(Double 213, getting 426, then annex a 0 to get 4260).  Write 4260
left of the vertical line.  4260 is the next TRIAL divisor. 


       2  1.  3  
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|00 41
      -----
    420| 15  00
    423| 12  69
        -------
    4260|02  31 00
    4265|

Continue this process as long as you like. Here is the
finished problem taken to the nearest thousandth:

       2  1.  3  5  4
      ---------------
     |04 56. 00 00 00
       4
      ---
   40|00 56
   41|00 41
      -----
    420| 15  00
    423| 12  69
        -------
    4260|02  31 00
    4265|02  13 25
         ---------
       42700|17 75 00
       42704|17 08 16
             --------
                66 84

To get another decimal place annex another "00" pair
to bring down.

Why does it work?  I won't show the whole thing. But
here's an idea to get you started if you are interested.  

(10u + t)² = 100u² + 20tu + t

Notice that 20u is the coefficient of t in the second term.
That is related to why we multiply u by 20 to get the TRIAL 
divisor 20tu.  The t on the end is related to why we must 
add the t to get the ACTUAL divisor.  

Edwin