The MySQL SQRT function is used to calculate the square root of a given numeric value. The square root is a mathematical operation that, when applied to a number, yields a result such that, when multiplied by itself, the original number is obtained. In the context of MySQL, the SQRT function provides a convenient way to compute the square root of a numeric expression.
Syntax
Here is the basic syntax of the MySQL SQRT function:
SELECT SQRT(number) AS square_root_result;
In this syntax:
number: This is the numeric value for which you want to calculate the square root.
The result is a decimal value representing the square root of the input number.
Example
Here’s an example illustrating the usage of the MySQL SQRT function:
-- Calculate the square root of 25 SELECT SQRT(25) AS square_root_result;
The output of this query would be:
+----------------------+ | square_root_result | +----------------------+ | 5.000000 | +----------------------+
In this case, the square root of 25 is 5, and the result is a decimal value.
It’s important to note that the input to the SQRT function must be a non-negative numeric value. If a negative value is provided, the function will return NULL. Additionally, SQRT can be used with other numeric expressions, such as column names, constants, or mathematical operations.
In summary, the MySQL SQRT function is a useful tool for calculating the square root of numeric values, and it finds applications in various mathematical and scientific computations within the MySQL database environment.