The square root of 144 is:

**The reasoning** The square root asks: "What number, when multiplied by itself, gives 144?" Let's work backwards: - 12 × 12 = 144 ✓ So √144 = 12 **Pro tip:** Memorize perfect squares up to at least 15²: - 10² = 100 - 11² = 121 - **12² = 144** ← This one! - 13² = 169 - 14² = 196 - 15² = 225 **Why the wrong options tempt you** The other options are neighboring numbers designed to catch students who **guess without calculating**. - **A) 11** — Too close! But 11 × 11 = 121 (not 144) - **C) 13** — Looks reasonable, but 13 × 13 = 169 (too big) - **D) 14** — Even further off: 14 × 14 = 196 They're banking on you being unsure and picking a "middle-ish" number. **Quick takeaway** When you see a square root question, don't guess — **multiply your answer by itself to confirm it gives the original number**. Perfect squares are your friends in JAMB; learn them cold!