Section P3

Radicals and Rational Exponents

Square Roots
Definition of the Principal Square Root
If a is a nonnegative real number, the nonnegative number b
such that b 2 =a, denoted by b= a is the principal square root of a.

81  9
 40  9  7
9 3

64 8
Examples

Evaluate

36  16

100  44

 121
Simplifying Expressions
of the Form
2
a
The Product Rule for Square Roots
A square root is simplified when its radicand has
no factors other than 1 that are perfect squares.
Examples

Simplify:

4900
Examples

Simplify:

4 x  63x
The Quotient Rule for Square Roots
Examples

Simplify:
9
49

3
54 x
2x
Adding and Subtracting Square Roots
Two or more square roots can be combined
using the distributive property provided that
they have the same radicand. Such radicals are
called like radicals.
Example

Add or Subtract as indicated:

10 5  2 5

3  6 3  12
Example

Add or Subtract as indicated:

7 x  98 x  2 x  5 28 x
Rationalizing Denominators
Rationalizing a denominator involves rewriting a
radical expression as an equivalent expression
in which the denominator no longer contains any
radicals. If the denominator contains the square
root of a natural number that is not a perfect
square, multiply the numerator and the
denominator by the smallest number that
produces the square root of a perfect square in
the denominator.
Let’s take a look two more examples:
Examples

Rationalize the denominator:

7
6

7
18
Examples

Rationalize the denominator:

2
3 2 5
Other Kinds of Roots
Examples

Simplify:

3
8

3
8

4
16
The Product and Quotient Rules
for nth Roots
Example

Simplify:

6 4 81

5
4  5 40
Example

Simplify:

3
64
27

3
250  2 3 16
Rational Exponents
Example

Simplify:
3
81 4

3
32 5

5
48 x 3

1
3x 2
Example

Simplify:
5
   13 
4

 2x   x 
5

   

4
81x 2

Notice that the index reduces on this last problem.

Simplify:
81x 3
4x

(a) 9
x
2
9
(b) x x
2
9
(c) x
2
9 x
(d)
2 x
Simplify: 2
  3

1

 7 x  3 x 
4 2

  
5
(a) 21x 4

5
(b) 63 x 4

7
(c) 21x 4

7
(d) 63 x 4