Roots and Radicals

10
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Directions: Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before
your answer.

Answers are at the end of the chapter.

1. The sum of 75 and 12 is 5. The square root of 17,956 is exactly

(A) 87 (A) 132
(B) 7 3 (B) 133
(C) 3 5+3 2 (C) 134
(D) 29 3 (D) 135
(E) 3 3 (E) 137
2. The difference between 125 and 45 is 6. The square root of 139.24 is exactly
(A) 4 5 (A) 1.18
(B) 2 5 (B) 11.8
(C) 2 (C) 118
(D) 5 2 (D) .118
(E) 10 (E) 1180

3. The product of 9x and 4x is x2 x2

7. Find + .
36 25
(A) 6 x 11x
(A)
(B) 36 x 30
(C) 36x 9x
(B)
30
(D) 6x
x
(E) 6x2 (C)
11
2 2x
4. If = .16 , then x equals (D)
x 11
(A) 50 61
(E) x
(B) 5 30
(C) .5 8. x 2 + y 2 is equal to
(D) .05 (A) x+y
(E) .005 (B) x-y
(C) (x + y) (x - y)
(D) x 2 + y2
(E) none of these

143
144 Chapter 10

9. Divide 8 12 by 2 3 . 10. ( 2 )5 is equal to

(A) 16 (A) 2
(B) 9 (B) 2 2
(C) 8 (C) 4
(D) 12 (D) 4 2
(E) 96 (E) 8

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 Roots and Radicals 145

1. ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICALS

The conditions under which radicals can be added or subtracted are much the same as the conditions for letters in
an algebraic expression. The radicals act as a label, or unit, and must therefore be exactly the same. In adding or
subtracting, we add or subtract the coefficients, or rational parts, and carry the radical along as a label, which
does not change.
Example:

2 + 3 cannot be added
2 + 3 2 cannot be added
4 2 +5 2 = 9 2
Often, when radicals to be added or subtracted are not the same, simplification of one or more radicals will make
them the same. To simplify a radical, we remove any perfect square factors from underneath the radical sign.
Example:

12 = 4 ⋅ 3 = 2 3
27 = 9 ⋅ 3 = 3 3

If we wish to add 12 + 27 , we must first simplify each one. Adding the simplified radicals gives a sum of 5 3 .

Example:
125 + 20 − 500

Solution:

25 ⋅ 5 + 4 ⋅ 5 − 100 ⋅ 5
= 5 5 + 2 5 − 10 5
= −3 5

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146 Chapter 10

Exercise 1
Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before your answer.
1 1 2
1. Combine 4 27 − 2 48 + 147 4. Combine ⋅ 180 + ⋅ 45 − ⋅ 20
2 3 5
(A) 27 3
(A) 3 10 + 15 + 2 2
(B) −3 3
16
(C) 9 3 (B) 5
5
(D) 10 3 (C) 97
(E) 11 3 24
(D) 5
2. Combine 80 + 45 − 20 5

(A) 9 5 (E) none of these

(B) 5 5 5. Combine 5 mn − 3 mn − 2 mn
(C) − 5
(A) 0
(D) 3 5
(B) 1
(E) −2 5
(C) mn
3. Combine 6 5 + 3 2 − 4 5 + 2 (D) mn
(A) 8 (E) − mn
(B) 2 5+3 2
(C) 2 5+4 2
(D) 5 7
(E) 5

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 Roots and Radicals 147

2. MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OF RADICALS

In multiplication and division, we again treat the radicals as we would treat letters in an algebraic expression.
They are factors and must be treated as such.
Example:
2⋅ 3= 6

Example:
4 2 ⋅ 5 3 = 20 ⋅ 6

Example:
(3 2 )2 = 3 2 ⋅ 3 2 = 9 ⋅ 2 = 18

Example:
8
= 4=2
2
Example:
10 20
=5 5
2 4
Example:
2 ( 8 + 18 ) = 16 + 36 = 4 + 6 = 10

Exercise 2
Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before your answer.
32b 3
1. Multiply and simplify: 2 18 ⋅ 6 2 4. Divide and simplify:
8b
(A) 72 (A) 2 b
(B) 48 (B) 2b
(C) 12 6 (C) 2b
(D) 8 6 (D) 2b 2
(E) 36 (E) b 2b
3
2. ( )
Find 3 3
5. Divide and simplify:
15 96

(A) 27 3 5 2
(A) 7 3
(B) 81 3
(B) 7 12
(C) 81
(C) 11 3
(D) 9 3
(D) 12 3
(E) 243
1 1 (E) 40 3
3. Multiply and simplify: 2( 6 + 2)
2 2
1
(A) 3+
2
1
(B) ⋅ 3
2
(C) 6 +1
1
(D) 6+
.2
(E) 6+2

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148 Chapter 10

3. SIMPLIFYING RADICALS CONTAINING A SUM

OR DIFFERENCE
In simplifying radicals that contain several terms under the radical sign, we must combine terms before taking the
square root.
Example:
16 + 9 = 25 = 5
It is not true that 16 + 9 = 16 + 9 , which would be 4 + 3, or 7.

Example:
x2 x2 25 x 2 − 16 x 2 9 x 2 3x
− = = =
16 25 400 400 20

Exercise 3
Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before your answer.
x2 x2 y2 y2
1. Simplify + 4. Simplify −
9 16 2 18
25 x 2 2y
(A) (A)
144 3
5x y
(B) (B)
12 5
10 y
5x 2 (C)
(C) 3
12 y 3
x (D)
(D) 6
7 (E) cannot be done
7x
(E)
12 5. a 2 + b 2 is equal to
2. Simplify 36 y 2 + 64 x 2 (A) a+b
(A) 6y + 8x (B) a–b
(B) 10xy (C) a2 + b2
(C) 6y2 + 8x2 (D) (a + b) (a - b)
(D) 10x2y2 (E) none of these
(E) cannot be done

x2 x2
3. Simplify −
64 100
x
(A)
40
x
(B) −
2
x
(C)
2
3x
(D)
40
3x
(E)
80

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 Roots and Radicals 149

4. FINDING THE SQUARE ROOT OF A NUMBER

In finding the square root of a number, the first step is to pair off the digits in the square root sign in each direction
from the decimal point. If there is an odd number of digits before the decimal point, insert a zero at the beginning
of the number in order to pair digits. If there is an odd number of digits after the decimal point, add a zero at the
end. It should be clearly understood that these zeros are place holders only and in no way change the value of the
number. Every pair of numbers in the radical sign gives one digit of the square root.
Example:
Find the number of digits in the square root of 328,329.

Solution:
Pair the numbers beginning at the decimal point.
32 83 29 .
Each pair will give one digit in the square root. Therefore the square root of 328,329 has three digits.
If we were asked to find the square root of 328,329, we would look among the multiple-choice answers for a
three-digit number. If there were more than one, we would have to use additional criteria for selection. Since our
number ends in 9, its square root must end in a digit that, when multiplied by itself, ends in 9. Going through the
digits from 0 to 9, this could be 3 (3 · 3 = 9) or 7 (7 · 7 = 49). Only one of these would appear among the choices,
as this examination will not call for extensive computation, but rather for sound mathematical reasoning.

Example:
The square root of 4624 is exactly
(A) 64
(B) 65
(C) 66
(D) 67
(E) 68

Solution:
Since all choices contain two digits, we must reason using the last digit. It must be a number that,
when multiplied by itself, will end in 4. Among the choices, the only possibility is 68 as 642 will
end in 6, 652 will end in 5, 662 in 6, and 672 in 9.

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150 Chapter 10

Exercise 4
Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before your answer.

1. The square root of 17,689 is exactly 4. The square root of 25.6036 is exactly
(A) 131 (A) 5.6
(B) 132 (B) 5.06
(C) 133 (C) 5.006
(D) 134 (D) 5.0006
(E) 136 (E) 5.00006
2. The number of digits in the square root of 5. Which of the following square roots can be
64,048,009 is found exactly?
(A) 4 (A) .4
(B) 5 (B) .9
(C) 6 (C) .09
(D) 7 (D) .02
(E) 8 (E) .025
3. The square root of 222.01 is exactly
(A) 14.3
(B) 14.4
(C) 14.6
(D) 14.8
(E) 14.9

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 Roots and Radicals 151

RETEST
Work out each problem. Circle the letter that appears before your answer.
a2 a2
1. The sum of 2 8 , 4 50 , and 3 18 is 6. Find +
b2 b2
(A) 33 6 a2
(A)
(B) 9 76 b2
a
(C) 33 2 (B)
b
(D) 135 6 2a
(C)
(E) 136 2 b
1 2 a 2
2. The difference between 180 and 20 is (D)
2 5 b
1 a 2
(A) 160 (E)
10 b2
2
(B) 16 5 7. The square root of 213.16 is exactly
5
(A) 14.2
2
(C) 16 (B) 14.3
5
11 (C) 14.8
(D) 5
5 (D) 14.9
2
(E) 5 (E) 14.6
5
3. The product of a 2 x and x 6 x is 8. The number of digits in the square root of
14,161 is
(A) 2ax 2 3
(A) 5
(B) 12ax3
(B) 4
(C) (2ax )2 3
(C) 3
(D) 12ax2
(D) 2
(E) 12ax
(E) 6
4. Divide 42 40r 3t 6 by 3 5rt 2
9. (2 3 )5 is equal to
2
(A) 56rt 2
(A) 32 3
(B) 28rt 2rt
(B) 288 3
(C) 28rt 2 2
(C) 10 3
(D) 28rt 2t
(D) 90 3
(E) 56rt 2t
(E) 16 3
3
5. Solve for x: = .09
x 25m 4
(A) 10 10. Find
36c64 d 16
(B) 1 5m 2
(C) .1 (A)
6c8 d 4
(D) .01 5m 2
(B)
(E) 1.1 6c32 d 4
5m 2
(C)
6c32 d 8
5m 2
(D)
6c8 d 8
5m
(E)
6c16 d 4

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152 Chapter 10

SOLUTIONS TO PRACTICE EXERCISES

Diagnostic Test Exercise 1

1. (B) 75 = 25 ⋅ 3 = 5 3 1. (E) 4 27 = 4 9 ⋅ 3 = 12 3
12 = 4 ⋅ 3 = 2 3
5 3+2 3=7 3 2 48 = 2 16 ⋅ 3 = 8 3
147 = 49 ⋅ 3 = 7 3
2. (B) 125 = 25 ⋅ 5 = 5 5 12 3 − 8 3 + 7 3 = 11 3
45 = 9 ⋅ 5 = 3 5
2. (B) 80 = 16 ⋅ 5 = 4 5
5 5−3 5 = 2 5

3. (D) 9 x ⋅ 4 x = 36 x 2 = 6 x 45 = 9 ⋅ 5 = 3 5
20 = 4 ⋅ 5 = 2 5
4. (B) .16 = .4
4 5+3 5−2 5 =5 5
2
= .4 Multiply by x.
x 3. (C) Only terms with the same radical may be
2 = .4 x combined.
x=5
6 5−4 5 =2 5
5. (C) Since the last digit is 6, the square root
must end in 4 or 6. 3 2+ 2 =4 2

Therefore we have 2 5 + 4 2
6. (B) Since the number has two digits to the
right of the decimal point, its square root will 1 1
4. (B) ⋅ 180 = ⋅ 36 ⋅ 5 = 3 5
have one digit to the right of the decimal point. 2 2

1 1
25 x 2 + 36 x 2 61x 2 61 ⋅ 45 = ⋅ 9 ⋅ 5 = 5
7. (E) = =x 3 3
900 900 30 2 2 4
⋅ 20 = ⋅ 4 ⋅ 5 = 5
8. (E) It is not possible to find the square root of 5 5 5
separate terms. 4 4
3 5+ 5− ⋅ 5=4 5− 5
5 5
8 12 1 16
9. (C) = 4 4 = 4⋅2 = 8 =3 5= 5
2 3 5 5

10. (D) ( 2 )( 2 ) = 2 . Therefore, 5. (A) 5 mn − 5 mn = 0

( 2) ⋅( 2) ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 = 4 2

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 Roots and Radicals 153

Exercise 2 Exercise 3
16 x 2 + 9 x 2 25 x 2 5 x
1. (A) 2 18 ⋅ 6 2 = 12 36 = 12 ⋅ 6 = 72 1. (B) = =
144 144 12
2. (B) 3 3 ⋅ 3 3 ⋅ 3 3 = 27(3 3 ) = 81 ⋅ 3 2. (E) The terms cannot be combined and it is
not possible to take the square root of separated
3. (A) Using the distributive law, we have terms.
1 1 1 1 1
12 + ⋅ 2 = 4⋅ 3+ = 3+
2 4 2 2 2 100 x 2 - 64 x 2 36 x 2 6 x 3x
3. (D) = = =
6400 6400 80 40
4. (C) Dividing the numbers in the radical sign,
we have 4 b 2 = 2b 18 y 2 - 2 y 2 16 y 2 4 y 2 y
4. (A) = = =
36 36 6 3
5. (D) 3 48 = 3 16 ⋅ 3 = 12 3
5. (E) It is not possible to find the square root of
separate terms.

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154 Chapter 10

Exercise 4 Retest
1. (C) Since the last digit is 9, the square root 1. (C) 2 8 =2 4⋅ 2 =4 2
must end in 3 or 7.
4 50 = 4 25 ⋅ 2 = 20 2
2. (A) Every pair of digits in the given number
gives one digit of the square root. 3 18 = 3 9 ⋅ 2 = 9 2
4 2 + 20 2 + 9 2 = 33 2
3. (E) Since the number ends in 1, its square
1 1
root must end in 1 or 9. 2. (D) 180 = 36 ⋅ 5 = 3 5
2 2
2 2 4
4. (B) Since the number has four digits to the 20 = 4⋅ 5= 5
5 5 5
right of the decimal point, its square root will
4 11
have two digits to the right of the decimal 3 5− 5= 5
5 5
point.
3. (A) a 2 x ⋅ x 6 x = ax 12 x 2 = 2ax 2 3
5. (C) In order to take the square root of a
decimal, it must have an even number of 4. (C) 42 40r 3t 6
= 14 8r 2 t 4
decimal places so that its square root will have 3 5rt 2

exactly half as many. In addition to this, the 14 8r 2 t 4 = 28rt 2 2

digits must form a perfect square ( .09 = .3) .
5. (A) .09 = .3

3
= .3 Multiply by x.
x
3 = .3x
x = 10

2a 2 a 2
6. (D) =
b2 b

7. (E) Since the last digit is 6, the square root

must end in 4 or 6.

8. (C) A five-digit number has a three-digit

square root.

9. (B)
2 3 ⋅ 2 3 ⋅ 2 3 ⋅ 2 3 ⋅ 2 3 = 32(9 3 ) = 288 3

25m 4 5m 2
10. (C) 64 16
= 32 8
36c d 6c d

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