Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

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Simplifying radicals: Section 2

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Simplifying powers
Factors of the radicand
Fractional radicand

We can identify with the absolute value of x (Lesson 12).

.
For, when x 0, then
.
But if x < 0 -- if, for example, x = 5 -- then

because the square root is never negative. (Lesson 26.) Rather, when
x<0, then
.

.
Therefore in general we must write

.
conforms to the definition of the absolute value.

Example 4.Compare ( )2 and .

( )2 = x. (Lesson 26.) For, in order for that radical to be a real

number, the radicand x may not be negative.
= x -- only if x 0. For any value of x, we must write

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Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

Simplifying powers

Example 5.Since the square of any power produces an even exponent -

-
(a 3)2 = a 6
-- then the square root of an even power will be half the exponent.

= a 3.
As for an odd power, such as a 7, it is composed of an even power
times a:
a 7 = a 6a.
Therefore,
= = a3 .

(These results hold only for a 0.)

Problem 5.Simplify each radical. (Assume a 0.)

To see the answer, pass your mouse over the colored area.
To cover the answer again, click "Refresh" ("Reload").
Do the problem yourself first!

a) = a 2 b) = a 5 c) = a n

d) = = a e) = = a 4

f) = = a7 g) = = an
Note: '2n' in algebra, as in part c), indicates an even number, that is, a
multiple of 2. The variable n typically signifies an integer.We signify an
odd number, then, as '2n + 1,' as in part g).

Problem 6.Simplify each radical. Remove the even powers. (Assume

that the variables do not have negative values.)

a) = = 2x

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Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

b) = = 2 x 2 y3

c) = = 3x4 yz 2

Factors of the radicand

Problem 7.True or false? That is, which of these is a rule of algebra?

(Assume that a and b do not have negative values.)
a) True. This is the rule, and the only one. The square
root of a product is the product of the square roots of
each factor.

b) = + False. The radicand is not made up of factors, as in

part a).

c) = a + b. False! The radicand is not made up of factors.

d) = a. True.

e) = a + b. True. The radicand is (a + b) 2.

Problem 8.Express each radical in simplest form.

a) = =2 .
To simplify a radical, the radicand must be composed of
factors!

b) = = 2a

c) = = 3b
Fractional radicand
A radical is in its simplest form when the radicand is not a fraction.

Example 6.The denominator a square number. When the

denominator is a square number, as , then
= 12 .
In general,

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Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

For, aa = a 2.

Example 7. = The definition of division

= 12

Problem 9.Simplify each radical.

a) 1 b) = 1 c) = 2

= 3
= 3
= 5

d) = = 56

Example 8. The denominator not a square number. Simplify .

Solution.When the denominator is not a square number, we can make
it a square number by multiplying it. In this example, we will multiply it
by itself, that is, by 2. But then we must multiply the numerator also
by2:
1
= = = 2 .

Example 9.Simplify .
Solution.The denominator must be a perfect square. We can make
50 into a square number simply by multiplying by 2. We can make x a
square by multiplying by x. And y2 is already a square. Therefore,

Example 10.Simplify . (Assume that the variables do not have

negative values.)
Solution.Again, the denominator must be a perfect square. It must
be composed of even powers. Therefore, make the denominator into a
product of even powers simply simply by multiplying it -- and the

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Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

numerator -- by bc. Then extract half of the even powers.

Problem 10.Simplify each radical. (Assume that the variables do not

have negative values.)

a) = = 13 b) = = 15

c) = = 17

d) = = = 5
6x

2 a2
e) = = x2 = bc2
f) =

Problem 11.Show

A problem that asks you to show, means to write what's on the left,
and then transform it algebraically so that it looks like what's on the
right.

Solution. = = =

Back to Section 1

First Lesson on Radicals

Next Lesson: Multipying and dividing radicals

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Simplifying radicals(2) - A complete course in algebra

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