it can be seen in http://www.cnblogs.com/pkuoliver/archive/2010/10/06/1844725.html

special_sqrt.c

float f_sqrt(float x)
{
	float xhalf = 0.5f*x;
	int i = *(int*)&x; // get bits for floating VALUE 
	i = 0x5f375a86- (i>>1); // gives initial guess y0
	x = *(float*)&i; // convert bits BACK to float
	x = x*(1.5f-xhalf*x*x); // Newton step, repeating increases accuracy
	x = x*(1.5f-xhalf*x*x); // Newton step, repeating increases accuracy
	x = x*(1.5f-xhalf*x*x); // Newton step, repeating increases accuracy
	return 1/x;
}


float f1_rsqrt( float number )
{
	long i;
	float x2, y;
	const float threehalfs = 1.5F;

	x2 = number * 0.5F;
	y   = number;
	i   = * ( long * ) &y;   // evil floating point bit level hacking
	i   = 0x5f3759df - ( i >> 1 ); // what the fuck?
	y   = * ( float * ) &i;
	y   = y * ( threehalfs - ( x2 * y * y ) ); // 1st iteration
	// y   = y * ( threehalfs - ( x2 * y * y ) ); // 2nd iteration, this can be removed

	#ifndef Q3_VM
	#ifdef __linux__
		 assert( !isnan(y) ); // bk010122 - FPE?
	#endif
	#endif
	return y;
}


float f2_rsqrt (float x) 
{
	float xhalf = 0.5f*x;
	int i = *(int*)&x;
	i = 0x5f3759df - (i>>1);
	x = *(float*)&i;
	x = x*(1.5f - xhalf*x*x);
	return x;
}