A root is a value that, when multiplied by itself a certain number of times, produces a given number. It represents the inverse operation of exponentiation.
To express roots, mathematicians use radical notation. This notation consists of the radical symbol (√) with two essential components:
• The degree (or index) is a small number positioned at the top left of the radical symbol (ⁿ√) indicating how many times the value must multiply itself
• The radicand is the number or expression written under the radical symbol whose root we're finding
Roots are classified in multiple ways. The most common classification is by degree, which determines the specific type of root: square roots, cube roots, fourth roots, and higher-degree roots each have distinct properties and applications in mathematics.