How to square numbers in Python?
Tags: python, beginners, tutorial
Published: 2021-10-11 12:11:42

In this short tutorial, we look at how we can use Python to square a number. We look at all the various methods and break them down for you.

This tutorial is a part of our initiative at [Flexiple](https://flexiple.com/), to write short curated tutorials around often used or interesting concepts.

### Table of Contents- Python Square
- [Squaring numbers in Python](#squaring-numbers-in-python)
- [Python Square using **](#python-square-using-)
- [Squaring using the pow() method](#squaring-using-the-pow-method)
- [Multiplying the number by itself](#multiplying-the-number-by-itself)
- [Closing thoughts](#closing-thoughts-python-square)

## Squaring numbers in Python:
The square of a number is the result of multiplying the number by itself. In Python, we deal with a lot of square numbers - Data, Financial Analysis use them the most. Because of this high usage Python provides three methods to square a number: they are:
- Using the Exponent Operator
- Multiplying the number by itself (n*n)
- Using pow()
The last method can also be used with the math module which has a lot of other handy mathematical functions as well.

## Python Square using **:
The Python exponent operator ** is used to perform an exponential calculation. It takes in 2 real numbers. The syntax is as follows.
```python
print(N**power)
```
Here “N” is the number and “power” is the number of times you would like to exponent the number. Since we are looking to square the number, we can pass 2 as the power. Similarly, If we were looking to cube the value we would pass 3.

### Code and Explanation:
```python
n = 2
n2 = 3

print(n**2)
print(n2**2)
```
The above code snippet returns the following values which are the square of the entered values. This is how you use exponents to calculate the square of a number.
```python
4
9
```
## Squaring using the pow() method:
The pow() method is another method in Python that can be used to square a number. This method also takes in two arguments in the following syntax.
```python
pow(base, exp)
```
This method is equivalent to the exponent methods and you can choose which method you would like to use. The pow() method supports a third argument which I would recommend reading about once you have practiced using it with two arguments.

### Code and Explanation:
```python
n = 2
n2 = 3

print(pow(2,2))
print(pow(3,2))
```
Similar to the method above, the square values of the argument are returned. This is how you use the pow() method to calculate the square of a number.
```python
4
9
```
As mentioned above the pow() method can also be used in the math module, however, it needs to be imported before it is used. Hence I would not recommend using it unless you are intending to use other methods from the module as well.

## Multiplying the number by itself:
This is the most fundamental method of calculating the square of a number. Here we square the number by multiplying the number by itself.

### Code and Explanation:
```python
n = 2
n2 = 3

print(n*n)
print(n2*n2)
```
The above code returns the square of the number.
```python
4
9
```

## Closing thoughts - Python Square
All the method methods above can be used to calculate the Python square of a number. Although 3 works well, I personally prefer using methods 1 or 2.

Once you are done with the tutorial I would recommend that you check out the Python square root method that is used to find the square root of a number.