SQRT FAQS

1. What does the SQRT function do in Oracle?

The SQRT function returns the square root of a number. It calculates the positive root of the input value.

 

2. What is the syntax for the SQRT function?

The basic syntax is:

SQRT(number)

• number: The numeric value or expression whose square root is to be calculated.

 

3. What happens if I pass a negative number to the SQRT function?

The SQRT function will return NULL when the input is a negative number because the square root of negative numbers isn't defined in the realm of real numbers (it results in a complex number).

Example:

SELECT SQRT(-9) FROM dual; -- Returns NULL

 

4. Can I use SQRT with non-numeric data types?

No, the SQRT function only works with numeric values. If you pass a non-numeric value (e.g., a string or date), you will encounter an error.

 

5. What does the SQRT function return if the input is 0?

If the input is 0, the SQRT function will return 0.

Example:

SELECT SQRT(0) FROM dual; -- Returns 0

 

6. What data types can be used with the SQRT function?

The SQRT function can work with numeric data types, such as:

• NUMBER
• DECIMAL
• FLOAT
• INTEGER
• DOUBLE

It cannot be used with non-numeric data types like strings or dates.

 

7. How do I handle negative values with the SQRT function?

If you want to avoid the issue of getting NULL for negative values, you can handle them using a CASE statement or a filtering condition.

Example:

SELECT product_id, price,

       CASE

           WHEN price >= 0 THEN SQRT(price)

           ELSE 'Invalid price'

       END AS price_sqrt

FROM products;

 

8. Can I use the SQRT function in a WHERE clause?

Yes, you can use the SQRT function in the WHERE clause. For example, to filter rows based on the square root of a column:

SELECT product_id, price

FROM products

WHERE SQRT(price) > 10;

 

9. Can the SQRT function be used in mathematical expressions?

Yes, the SQRT function can be used in expressions. For example, you can multiply the square root of a column by a constant or use it in a mathematical formula.

Example:

SELECT product_id, price, SQRT(price) * 10 AS adjusted_price

FROM products;

 

10. Does the SQRT function handle NULL values?

Yes, if you pass a NULL value to the SQRT function, it will return NULL as the result.

Example:

SELECT SQRT(NULL) FROM dual; -- Returns NULL

 

11. How is the SQRT function used in reporting and analysis?

The SQRT function is often used in financial, statistical, or engineering reports to calculate metrics like standard deviation, variance, or in formulas for calculating distances, accelerations, and more.

Example:

SELECT product_id, SQRT(price) AS price_sqrt

FROM products

WHERE price > 0;

 

12. Can the SQRT function be used in aggregate queries?

Yes, the SQRT function can be used in aggregate queries as part of mathematical calculations or to filter based on the square root of aggregated values.

Example:

SELECT product_id, AVG(SQRT(price)) AS avg_price_sqrt

FROM products

GROUP BY product_id;