Simplifying Radicals

Radical- the square root

So simplifying a radical is another way of saying find the square root
Some times the square root of a number is a whole number. For example:
49 = 7

But sometimes the square root of a number is not a whole number. When
you type in 48 into your calculator, you get 6.92820323. This number is
not the exact answer for the 48; it is a DECIMAL APPROXIMATION.
Most teacher do not want a decimal approximation, they want the
SIMPLIFYED RADICAL FORM.

In order to simplify a radical whose answer is not a whole number, you use
the factor tree to find out its prime factorization.
Ex. 48

If you are finding out the numbers prime

factorization and get a
perfect square, (in this case we got
16) then find the perfect squares square
root and put it in front of the
square root symbol. Then
multiply all the prime numbers in
the number tree together and put
that answer inside the square root
symbol
WHAT IF YOU GET 2 PERFECT SQUARES WHILE FINDING THE
PRIME FACTORIZATION?

If you get 2 perfect squares while finding the prime factorization, multiply
both their square roots together. Put that number outside off the square root
sign, and multiply the prime numbers and put them into the square root sign

For example:
34
 QUESTION AND ANSWER
1. a 4 = a 2

2. a 10 = a5

3. a7 = a 3 a

4. a 3 =a 2 a

5. a9 = a4 a

6. a 15 = a 7 a

7. 4x 3 = 2x x

8. 8x 5 y 6 = 2x 2 y 3 2x