Whether you are writing a math paper, preparing a spreadsheet, or simply curious, typing special characters on a Mac is surprisingly intuitive once you know the shortcuts. The square root symbol (√) is technically a mathematical symbol, but it is not printed on your keyboard keys.
If you forget the keyboard shortcut or need a specific variation of the symbol (like a cube root or fourth root), the Character Viewer is the best tool. square root symbol on macbook
macOS uses the Option key as a modifier to access hidden characters. The 'V' key was chosen because the square root symbol looks like a stylized "V" (or checkmark), making it easy to remember. Whether you are writing a math paper, preparing
If you want to type the symbol without taking your hands off the keyboard, this is the method to memorize. macOS uses the Option key as a modifier
Press: That’s it. Hold Option (⌥) and tap V → √ appears.