Answer to Question #4054 in Real Analysis for pdakshinamurthy

Question

Explain the method of finding sqare root of 5.

Answer 1

Here is the geometrical solution:

Take a rope of 3 meters. Then make four knots on it in such a way that you get 3 equal parts. Bend your rope around the second knot at right angle. You will get a right triangle with the sides 1 m and 2 m.
According to the Pythagorean Theorem, its hypotenuse is a square root from 1²+2²=5.