Question

Find the square roots of 100 and 169 by the method of repeated subtraction.

Answer 1

By successive subtraction of odd natural numbers from 100,

100 – 1 = 99

99 – 3 = 96

96 – 5 = 91

91 – 7 = 84

84 – 9 = 75

75 – 11 = 64

64 – 13 = 51

51 – 15 = 36

36 – 17 = 19

19 – 19 = 0

This successive subtraction is completed in 10 steps.

Therefore $\sqrt{100}=10$

By successive subtraction of odd natural numbers from 169,

169 – 1 = 168

168 – 3 = 165

165 – 5 = 160

160 – 7 = 153

153 – 9 = 144

144 – 11 = 133

133 – 13 = 120

120 – 15 = 105

105 – 17 = 88

88 – 19 = 69

69 – 21 = 48

48 – 23 = 25

25 – 25 = 0

This successive subtraction is completed in 13 steps.

Therefore $\sqrt{169}=13$