Why is the solution of equation called as roots?

A solution of an equation is called a solution. For example, [math]2x+1=5[/math] has a solution [math]x=2[/math]. Equations don't have roots. Functions, on the other hand, do have roots. A function [math]f(x)[/math] has a root. The root of a function is a solution to the equation [math]f(x)=0[/math]. Functions have roots, equations have solutions. read more

A third root of 8 is 2, because 2×2×2 is 8. This sense was used by al-Khwārizmī and translated as"radix". This was generalised further, at about the same time, to refer to any polynomial, not just ones of the form [math]{ x }^{ n }-a[/math]. read more