Step by step
The question
Question: find the 4th root of 16.
4√16
The small 4 says how many times.
The 4th root of 16 asks: which number, times itself 4 times, makes 16?
? × ? × ? × ? = 16
1 List the 4th powers
4th powers are a number times itself 4 times.
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 is 16.
3 × 3 × 3 × 3 is 81.
4th powers: 24 = 16, 34 = 81
Careful!
The 4th root is not 16 divided by 4.
4 × 4 × 4 × 4 is far more than 16.
Careful: not 4√16 = 4 ✗
16 is in the list: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 is 16.
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
So the 4th root of 16 = 2.
= 2
2 Check
Let's check: 2 times itself 4 times.
We get 16.
So the answer is right!
2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16
Let's look back.
First: list the 4th powers.
Last: check.
Answer
= 2