having issues with square root in dimension

[hosford]

how to input square root in a dimension.

I have tried sqrt(5)

IV 2014 returns "expected [in] but found [ul^0.500]

any ideas?

[JDMather]

More information is needed.

Can you attach a simple file or screen capture?

These cases are (almost) always a case of mis-matched units for the function or dimension type.

[hosford]

Thanks see attached file.

[JDMather]

So you are doing a length dimension.

Your length units are inches.

It does not make sense to take square root of units, so you take square root of the magnitude and then multiply by 1 unit. 

Try

sqrt(5)*1in

[hosford]

Thanks JD.

I would think that IV would figure that out, given a value without units inside (), this is based on the fact it knows to place ul after my value.

Now for the hard part, to remember this.

[JDMather]

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@hosford wrote:

Thanks JD.

I would think that IV would figure that out,...

Now for the hard part, to remember this.

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I remember spending hours-upon-hours on this back in HS algebra. (then trig and calculus)
Must cancel out (or give) correct units in equations.