What is this よ in 値を求めよ?


Here is a sentence which would appear in a math exam paper.

> Xの値を求めよ。(Find the value of X.)

What kind of conjugation is this 求めよ and how does it work?




As you probably know, 求める is an ichidan verb, and the imperative form you
encounter most commonly is 求めろ. But if we delve deeper into 活用, it also has
another [imperative
form](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_verb_conjugation#%E5%91%BD%E4%BB%A4%E5%BD%A2)
(命令形), more formal in register and more literary in style: 求めよ.

The conjugation of 求める falls under
[下一段活用](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8B%E4%B8%80%E6%AE%B5%E6%B4%BB%E7%94%A8).
So to answer your question: 求めよ is 求める's literary imperative form.




As you probably know, 求める is an ichidan verb, and the imperative form you
encounter most commonly is 求めろ. But if we delve deeper into 活用, it also has
another [imperative
form](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_verb_conjugation#%E5%91%BD%E4%BB%A4%E5%BD%A2)
(命令形), more formal in register and more literary in style: 求めよ.

The conjugation of 求める falls under
[下一段活用](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%8B%E4%B8%80%E6%AE%B5%E6%B4%BB%E7%94%A8).
So to answer your question: 求めよ is 求める's literary imperative form.

