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Simplifying Square Roots

1) Radical expressions involving square roots can often be simplified by recognizing perfect squares that divide the number under the radical. 2) Operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division can be performed on radical expressions after simplifying inside and outside the radical separately. 3) Fractions containing radicals in either the numerator or denominator may also be possible to simplify by rationalizing the denominator.

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384 views15 pages

Simplifying Square Roots

1) Radical expressions involving square roots can often be simplified by recognizing perfect squares that divide the number under the radical. 2) Operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division can be performed on radical expressions after simplifying inside and outside the radical separately. 3) Fractions containing radicals in either the numerator or denominator may also be possible to simplify by rationalizing the denominator.

Uploaded by

Anonymous w23lTW
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Simplifying Square Root

Expressions
Numbers with a Root
Radical numbers are typically irrational numbers
(unless they simplify to a rational number). Our
calculator gives:

2 1.41421
But the decimal will go on forever and not repeat
because it is an irrational number. For the exact
answer just use:
2
Some radicals can be simplified similar to
simplifying a fraction.
Radical Product Property

a b ab
ONLY when a≥0 and b≥0

For Example:

9  16  9 16  144  12

9  16  3  4  12 Equal
Perfect Squares

The square of whole


numbers.
1 , 4 , 9 , 16 , 25 , 36 , 49 , 64 , 81 , 100 ,
121, 144 , 169 , 196 , 225, etc
Simplifying Square Roots
1. Check if the square root is a whole number
2. Find the biggest perfect square (4, 9, 16, 25,
36, 49, 64) that divides the number in the root
3. Rewrite the number in the root as a product
4. Simplify by taking the square root of the
perfect square and putting it outside the root
5. CHECK!
Note: A square root can not be simplified if there
is no perfect square that divides it. Just leave it
alone.
ex: √15 , √21, and √17
Simplifying Square Roots
Write the following as a radical (square root) in simplest
form:
Simplify.
36 is the biggest perfect square that divides 72.

72  36  2  36 2  6 2 Rewrite the square root as a product of roots.

27  9  3  9 3  3 3
Ignore the 5 multiplication until the end.

5 32  5 16  2  5 16 2  5  4  2
 20 2
Simplifying Square Roots
Simplify these radicals:

A) 16 4 B) 8 2 2

C) 7 D) 75 5 3

E )4 63  12 7 F ) 128  8 2
Adding and Subtracting Radicals
Simplify the expressions: Always simplify a radical first.

a. 2 3  2  4 3 b. 4 2  18
2 3 4 3  2 4 2  92
2 3  2 4 2 9 2
Treat the square roots as
variables, then combine like 4 2 3 2
terms ONLY.
7 2
Multiplication and Radicals
Simplify the expression:
7 10  4 15
Use the Commutative Property
to Rewrite the expression. 7  4  10  15
28 10 15
Simplify and use the Radical
Product Property Backwards.

28 150
If possible, simplify more.
28 25 6
Conclusion: Multiply the
numbers outside of the square 28  5 6
root, then multiply the numbers
inside of the square root. Then 140 6
simplify.
Distribution and Radicals
Rewrite the expression:

5 6 4 3 3 6 2 3  
3√6 -2√3 Find the Sum.

5√6 15√36 -10√18


90  30 2  36 2  24
90 -30√2
12√18 -8√9
4√3
36√2 -24 66  6 2
Combine like terms.
Remember: Multiply the numbers outside of
the square root, then multiply the numbers
inside of the square root. Then simplify.
Fractions and Radicals
Simplify the expressions:
5 7 4  12 15 180
a. 10
b. 2
c. 9
There is nothing to 4 4 3 15 36 5
simplify because the 2 9
square root is
simplified and every 4 2 3 15 6 5
term in the fraction 2 9
   
can not be divided by
10. 2 2 3 3 5 2 5
Make sure to
simplify the 2 33

2 3
fraction.
5 2 5
3
Radical Quotient Property
a a

b b
ONLY when a≥0 and b≥0

For Example:
64
16
 64
16
 8
4 2
Equal
64
16  4 2
The Square Root of a Fraction
Write the following as a radical (square root) in simplest
form:

Take the square root of the numerator and the denominator

3 3 3
 
4 4 2
Simplify.
Rationalizing a Denominator
The denominator of a fraction can not contain a radical. To
rationalize the denominator (rewriting a fraction so the
bottom is a rational number) multiply by the same
radical.

Simplify the following expressions:

5 2 5 2 5 2
  
 
2
2 2 2 2

6 3 6 3 6 3 6 3 3 2 3 2 3
     
 
53 35
2
5 3 3 5 3 15 5
WARNING
In general:

ab  a b
For Example:
Not
9  16  25  5 Equal

9  16  3  4  7

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