Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 4, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
You may be wondering how to use Excel to derive different roots of a number. Finding a square root is easy: you just use the SQRT function. For instance, the following returns the square root of the value in cell B7:
=SQRT(B7)
What about different roots, however? What if you want the fifth root of the value in B7, instead of the square root? Unless you are a math wiz (and I am not), the answer may not be that obvious. All you need to so is raise the value to the power of 1/n. For instance, if you want that fifth root of B7, then you would use the following formula:
=B7^(1/5)
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2172) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Finding the Nth Root of a Number.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Need to find the absolute value of a number? That's where the ABS function comes into play.
Discover MoreNeed to figure out the least common multiple of a range of values? It is a snap when you use the LCM function, described ...
Discover MoreWhen working with finances, you often need to know the rate of return on a given investment. The most common type of ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments