refresher
A radical expression is one which contains a root (square root, cube root, etc.).
        radparts    rad rules

When first working with radicals, the expressions are primarily limited to
square root (a = 2) expressions and cube root (a = 3) expressions.

bullet Let's examine Square Roots:
[On this page, the radicand will be non-negative. No negatives under the radical.]
Square roots have an index value of two. When you see a radical with no index listed, it is assumed to be an index of two, a square root.
 
2 way

 
statement
A square root is in simplest form when
1. the radicand contains no perfect square factors
2. the radicand is not a fraction
3. there are no radicals in the denominator of a fraction.

expin1 rn ex1

1. Find the largest perfect square factor (the largest perfect square that divides into 48 with no remainder). You need to be familiar with a list of perfect squares.
                        rad16
2.
Give each factor its own radical sign. 16a

3. Reduce the "perfect square" radical that was created. 16b

4. ANSWER: 16c

Don't worry if you do not pick the LARGEST perfect square factor to start. You can still get the correct answer, but you will have to repeat the process. See what happens if we choose 4 instead of 16 to start:
         radworry
Notice how the out-front 2 in the second line is multiplied along for the rest of the problem.


expin2
rad23

The number 23 cannot be factored by any of the perfect squares (23 is prime). This is a trick question as it is already in simplest form and cannot be reduced further.

expin3 ex2 rn
1. Give the numerator and denominator their own radical signs.radsimp3

2.
Multiply the numerator and denominator by a radical that will get rid of the radical in the denominator, by creating a perfect square under the radical. If a smaller value cannot be found, multiply by the same radical value that is in the denominator, automatically creating a perfect square. 
                rad simp3bb   ans2

This process of removing a radical from the denominator is referred to as "rationalizing the denominator" because it turns the denominator into a rational (not irrational) value.


expin4
rad 6 r 72

                    rad ex4

 

yellow+
The square root of a value is a quantity which, when squared, equals the radicand (the number under the square root symbol.) For example, the square root of 16 could be either + 4 or -4, since both, when squared, equal 16.

It is understood, however, that the square root (radical) symbol denotes only the positive root, called the "principal square root". yel 16

When solving the equation x2 = 25, you are searching for both solutions: +5 and -5. So, we write: squared    

bullet Let's see how this approach works with Cube Roots:

expin5 rn ex3

1. Find the largest perfect cube factor (the largest perfect cube that divides into 24 with no remainder).
                       ex3 pic a
2. Give each factor its own radical sign. ex3a

3. Reduce the "perfect cube" radical that was created. ex3b

4. ANSWER: ex3ans

Perfect Squares
4 = 2 x 2
9 = 3 x 3
16 = 4 x 4
25 = 5 x 5
36 = 6 x 6
49 = 7 x 7
64 = 8 x 8
81 = 9 x 9
100 = 10 x 10
121 = 11 x 11
144 = 12 x 12
169 = 13 x 13
196 = 14 x 14
225 = 15 x 15

Square Roots
r1
r2
r3
r4
r5
r6
r7
r8
r9
r10
r12
r13
r14
r15

Prime Factorization

Radicals can also be simplified by expressing the radicand using prime factorization and looking for groups of two similar factors to form a perfect square factor.


radprime

Product Rule

radthm
where a ≥ 0, b≥ 0

"The square root of a product is equal to the product of the square roots of each factor."

This theorem allows us to use our method of simplifying radicals.


Quotient Rule

radquotrule
where a ≥ 0, b > 0

"The square root of a quotient is equal to the quotient of the square roots of the numerator and denominator."


Perfect Cubes
8 = 2 x 2 x 2
27 = 3 x 3 x 3
64 = 4 x 4 x 4
125 = 5 x 5 x 5

Cube Roots
21
22
23
24

Remember:

When working with radicals, the term "simplify" means to find an equivalent expression.

It does not mean to find a decimal approximation.


ti84c
For calculator help with radicals
click here.

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