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SurdForm

is an option to RadicalBox and SqrtBox that indicates whether the radical represents a Surd expression.

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SurdForm

SurdForm

is an option to RadicalBox and SqrtBox that indicates whether the radical represents a Surd expression.

Details

  • With the default value SurdFormFalse, SqrtBox and RadicalBox represent principal roots. In particular, SqrtBox[x] is interpreted as Sqrt[x], and RadicalBox[x,n] is interpreted as x^(1/n).
  • With the specification SurdFormTrue, SqrtBox and RadicalBox represent real roots computed using Surd. In particular, SqrtBox[x] is interpreted as Surd[x,2], and RadicalBox[x,n] is interpreted as Surd[x,n].
  • SurdFormTrue displays with a short vertical line on the right side of the radical sign.
  • A templated RadicalBox with SurdFormTrue can be entered as surd, and moves between the fields.

Examples

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Basic Examples  (4)

Compare the display of SqrtBox with and without SurdFormTrue:

Wolfram Language code: {RawBoxes[SqrtBox["x"]], RawBoxes[SqrtBox["x", SurdForm -> True]]}

The interpretation of SqrtBox depends on the value of SurdForm:

Wolfram Language code: {ToExpression[SqrtBox["x"], StandardForm], ToExpression[SqrtBox["x", SurdForm -> True], StandardForm]}

The first expression is interpreted as a fractional power, the second as a Surd expression:

Wolfram Language code: %//FullForm

Compare the display of RadicalBox with and without SurdFormTrue:

Wolfram Language code: {RawBoxes[RadicalBox["x", "3"]], RawBoxes[RadicalBox["x", "3", SurdForm -> True]]}

The interpretation of RadicalBox depends on the value of SurdForm:

Wolfram Language code: {ToExpression[RadicalBox["x", "3"], StandardForm], ToExpression[RadicalBox["x", "3", SurdForm -> True], StandardForm]}

The first expression is interpreted as a fractional power, the second as a Surd expression:

Wolfram Language code: %//FullForm

Possible Issues  (1)

SurdForm can be set as a StyleBox or higher-level option setting:

Wolfram Language code: boxes = StyleBox[RadicalBox["x", "3"], RadicalBoxOptions -> {SurdForm -> True}];

The notebook front end respects any such inherited setting for rendering purposes:

Wolfram Language code: RawBoxes[boxes]

However, the inherited setting is not used to interpret the expression:

Wolfram Language code: ToExpression[boxes, StandardForm]
Wolfram Research (2012), SurdForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html.

Text

Wolfram Research (2012), SurdForm, Wolfram Language function, https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html.

CMS

Wolfram Language. 2012. "SurdForm." Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Wolfram Research. https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html.

APA

Wolfram Language. (2012). SurdForm. Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. Retrieved from https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html

BibTeX

@misc{reference.wolfram_2026_surdform, author="Wolfram Research", title="{SurdForm}", year="2012", howpublished="\url{https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html}", note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}

BibLaTeX

@online{reference.wolfram_2026_surdform, organization={Wolfram Research}, title={SurdForm}, year={2012}, url={https://reference.wolfram.com/language/ref/SurdForm.html}, note=[Accessed: 13-June-2026]}