You’ve heard of Polling Day. You’ve heard of May the Fourth. But today?
Today is different. Today is next-level. Today is Square Root Day!
What is Square Root Day?
Square Root Day occurs when both the day and month are the square root of the year. This rare event happens only a few times each century, making it a mathemagical moment worth celebrating!
First Things First — Who Really Came Up With Square Roots?
The concept of square roots dates back over 4,000 years to the Babylonians, who used clay tablets to calculate square roots long before calculators. One famous tablet even approximates the square root of 2 to six decimal places — a jaw-dropping feat of ancient math genius.
Fast forward to the 16th century, a German mathematician named Christoff Rudolff introduces a stretched-out check mark to represent the Latin word radix, meaning “root.”
This clever little mark eventually evolved into the sleek √ symbol we still use today.
Enter Ron Gordon, a teacher from California, who noticed the mathematical magic of 9/9/81 (where 9 is the square root of 81) and created Square Root Day — a celebration that aligns with dates where the day and month are square roots of the year.
So… What Is a Square Root?
It’s the number you multiply by itself to get another number.
For example, the square root of 25 is 5 because 5 × 5 = 25.
You can think of it like this: if squaring a number means multiplying it by itself, then finding a square root is like reversing that process — figuring out what number was multiplied by itself in the first place. Square roots help us break down big numbers into smaller, easy-to-understand parts. It’s like a shortcut for working backward from a number!
Do kids learn about square roots in school?
In Singapore, while the concept isn’t explicitly covered in primary school textbooks, students start encountering square numbers (like 1, 4, 9) through patterns, sequences, and the area of squares. This subtle introduction sets the stage for deeper learning in Secondary school, where students dive into square roots, their applications in geometry (like Pythagoras’ Theorem), and algebraic problem-solving.
Celebrate Square Root Day with these fun ideas!
1. Strike a √ Pose!
It’s time for a seriously geeky group photo! Gather your friends and strike a pose: form the iconic square root symbol (√) with your bodies! Angle your arms like a checkmark and line up—the more creative, the better! Snap a pic and share your math-loving selfie online.
2. A-P-T, Square Root Style — with Milo Shots!
You’ve seen the viral A-P-T game all over TikTok — now it’s time to give it a mathematical twist! Gather your kakis, grab that Milo Gao Siew Dai you panic-bought just to get the plushie, and get ready for A-P-T: Square Roots Edition.
Here’s how it works: each player takes turns counting up from 1, but if your number is a perfect square — boom! You shout “Square root!” and take a shot of Milo. If you land on two square numbers in a row? Double shot! It’s a hilarious (and sugar-fueled) way to clear out all that Milo and celebrate Square Root Day in true Singapore style.
3. Feature a Local Square Landmark!
Bring square roots to life with a fun, visual activity! Feature a local square-shaped landmark, like an HDB courtyard, playground, or mall. Show students a picture of a squarish space, and tell them its area (e.g., 250 square meters). Challenge them to find the side length by calculating the square root!
This helps connect abstract math to something concrete they can see. For an extra challenge, have them calculate the perimeter or estimate how many people could fit in that space.
Fun and Math All in One!
Forget scary math — Square Root Day is all about fun, patterns, and the magic hidden in numbers! The next Square Root Day won’t come around for years, so let’s make this one memorable!
Since you’re now a square root whiz, put your skills to the test: when’s the next Square Root Day?
To find out more about our Maths Programme, click here.
Written by Siti Aisyah Bte Shukri, Winnie Wee, and Noorsaidah Bte Haja Mohideen
