College Math Placement Practice Test

What is the square root of 49?

1. 5

2. 6

3. 7

4. 8

The correct answer is: 7

The square root of a number is defined as a value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the original number. In this case, the original number is 49. To find the square root of 49, we look for a number that, when squared (multiplied by itself), equals 49. The number 7 meets this criterion because: 7 × 7 = 49. This demonstrates that 7 is the correct answer, as it accurately represents the square root of 49. Understanding that the square root of a positive number is always a positive value helps confirm why 7 is the appropriate choice here, as it is the only positive integer among the options presented that fulfills the definition of a square root for 49. Other numbers like 5, 6, and 8, do not satisfy the equation, illustrating why they do not represent the square root of 49.