OPERATIONS ON

RADICAL EXPRESSIONS
for Mathematics Grade 9
Quarter 2 / Week 6

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OBJECTIVES:

K: Determines similar and dissimilar radical expressions

S: Performs operations on radical expressions

A: Shows accuracy in performing operations on radical

expressions

I. WHAT HAPPENED

Hello classmates! Join me as we

learn how to perform different
operations on radical expressions.

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PRE-ACTIVITIES

Remember:
1. Like/Similar Radicals
In our work with polynomials, we used distributive property to
combine like terms. Terms in an expression with the same variables
are called like terms.
8x2 + 5x2 = (8 + 5)x2 Apply Distributive Property
= 13x 2 Simplify
In the same way, we can combine like radicals. Like/Similar Radicals
are radicals having the same index/order and radicand. They are
added or subtracted the same way like terms are added.

2. Distributive Property for Multiplication over Addition (or over

Subtraction)
For any real nos. a, b, c; a(b + c) = ab + ac and a(b - c) = ab - ac

n n n
3. Product Rule of Radical: √√a∙ √b=√ab

4. The product of the sum of two terms and the difference of the same
two terms is the difference of their squares: (a + b) (a – b) = a2 – b2

5. The expression a + b and a – b are called conjugates of each other.

The product of the conjugates contains no square roots. The product
of conjugates such as √a+√b and √a-√b resulted to a rational roots.
2 2
(√a+√b) (√a-√b) =(√a) - (√b) =a-b

CONJUGATES
1When the denominator of a rational expression is a binomial
that contains a radical, the denominator is rationalized. This is done
by using the conjugate of the denominator. The conjugate of a
binomial is a binomial having the same two terms with the sign of the
second term changed.

Example:

The conjugate of 5 + √6 is 5 - √6

The conjugate of √3x - 4√2y is √3x + 4√2y

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 PRETEST

Read and analyze each question below. Write the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer.

1. What is the product of (3√2)(4√8)?

a. 28 b. 48 c. 12√12 d. 12√8

2. Below are examples of similar radicals, except

a. √3, 4√3 , 3√3
3

b. √3, 6√3, 2√3

3 3 3

c. √7, 4√7 ,−1√7

d. √𝑥𝑦, 4√𝑥𝑦 ,−1√𝑥𝑦

3. The sum of √𝑥𝑦 + 4√𝑥𝑦 is

a. 4xy b. 5xy c. 5√𝑥𝑦 d. 4√𝑥𝑦

4. The sum of 5√6 + 4√24 is

a. 13√6 b. 9√30 c. 9√2 d. 13√2

28
5. The simplified form of √ 7 .
a. 4 b. 3 c. 2 d. 1

6. When 8√5 is subtracted by 3√5, the difference is

a. −5√5 b. 25 c. −5√10 d. 5√5

7. The product of (√2𝑥𝑦 2 )(√8𝑥𝑦 4 ) is

a. 4𝑥𝑦 b. 4𝑥𝑦 2 c. 4𝑥𝑦 3 d. 4𝑥 2 𝑦 3

√𝑥−1
8. To rationalize the denominator of the radical expression ,
√2
multiply both numerator and denominator by
a. √2 b. 1 +√2 c. −√2 d. 1 - √2

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II. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING RADICAL EXPRESSIONS

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING RADICALS

Rule: Where possible, simplify the terms with radicals and combine like
radicals

Examples:

Add or subtract as indicated.

1. 3√2x + 5√2x = (3+5)√2x = 8√2x
2. 7√5 - √5 = (7-1)√5 = 6√5
3. 5√6 + 9√6 - 8√6 +11√6 = (5+9-8+11)√6 = 17√6

Add or subtract by combining similar radical

3 3 3 3
4. 20 √x -10 4√y + 4√y - 5 √x = (20-5) √x + (-10+1) 4√y = 15 √x - 9 4√y
Some radicals have to be simplified before they are added or subtracted.

3 3 2 6 √6 1 5
5. √ + √24=√ • +√4•6 =√ +√4•6= +2√6= ( +2) √6 = √6
2 2 2 4 2 2 2

MULTIPLYING RADICALS

CAUTION!
The product rule does not apply to addition or
subtraction!
√a ∙ √b = √a ∙ b → Correct
√a + √b = √a + b → Wrong

n
a) To multiply radicals of the same order/index, use the property √ab =
n n
√a • √b, then simplify by removing the perfect nth powers from the
radicand.
Example:
2
√3r2 s3 t5 •√12r3 s2 t =√36r5 s5 t6 = √62 (r22 ) (s22 )(t3 ) • √rs = 6r2 s2 t3 √rs

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b) To multiply binomials involving radicals, use the property for the product
of binomials (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑐 + 𝑑) = (𝑎𝑐)(𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐) + 𝑏𝑑, then simplify by removing
perfect 𝑛𝑡ℎ powers from the radicand of by combining similar radicals.
Example:

(√2+√7)(√8-√6)= √2•8 - √2•6 + √7•8 - √7•6

= √16-√12+√56 - √42

= √42 − √22 •3 + √22 •14 − √42

= 4 − 2√3 + 2√14 − √42

c) To multiply radicals of different orders/indices, express then as radicals of
the same order and simplify.

Example:
4 2 1 2 1 5
4 3 2 3 + 5
√4•√2= √2 • √2 = 24 • 23 = 24 3 = 26 = √32

DIVIDING RADICALS

n
√a n a
a. To divide radicals of the same order/index, use the property n = √b then
√b
rationalize the denominator.
3 3 2 3
√5 5 2 3 5•4 √20
Example: 3 =√ • 2 =√ 3 =
√2 2 2 2 2

b. To divide radicals of different orders/indices, it is necessary to express them

as radicals of the same order then rationalize the denominator.
1 2 6
3 √ 32 6 2 3 6 5 6
√3 33 36 3 3 3 √243
Example: = 1 = 3 = 6
= √ 3• 3 = √ 6 = 3
√3
√ 33 3 3 3
32 36

c. To divide radicals with a denominator consisting of at least two terms,

rationalize the denominator using its conjugate.
3 3 √3+√2 3√3+3√2 3√3+3√2
Example. = • = = =3√3+3√2
√3-√2 √3-√2 √3+√2 √9-√4 3-2

(Bryant et al. 2014)

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 REMEMBER
RATIONALIZING DENOMINATORS

To Rationalize a Denominator
Multiply both the numerator and the denominator of the fraction by a
radical that will result in the radicand in the denominator becoming a perfect
power.
Example:

2 √2 √3 √6
√ = ∙ =
3 √3 √3 3

III. WHAT HAVE I LEARNED

A. Direction: Answer each of the following:

1. Which of the following statement/s is/are true?

a. √16+√9 = 5 d. 3√5 + 4√5 = 7√10
3 3 3
b. 8√3 - 2√3 = 6√3 e. √2 + √6 = √8
c. √6 + 5√6 = 6√6

B. Perform the indicated operations and simplify your answer. Write your
answers on a separate sheet.

1. 2√3 +4√3 - 5√3

2. √8 + √18 - √2

3. (2√8 + 3√5)( 7√5)

6 - √2
4.
4 - √2

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POST TEST

DIRECTION: Read and analyze each question below. Write the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer.

1. What is the product of (−√3)(4√3)?

a. -12 b. 4√3 c. −4√3 d. 12

2. Below are examples of similar radicals, except

a . √2, 4√2 , 3√2
b. √5, 6√75, 2√5
3 3 3

c. −√11, 3√11 ,−1√11

d. √𝑎 + 𝑏, 4√𝑎 + 𝑏 ,−1√𝑎 + 𝑏

3. The sum of -2 √𝑥 + 4√𝑥 is

𝑎. −2√𝑥 b. 6√𝑥 c. 2√𝑥 d. -6√𝑥

4. The sum of 3√12 + 8√48 is

𝑎. 30√3 b. 38√3 c. 11√60 d. 11√28

72
5. The simplified form of √ 8 .
a. 4 b. 3 c. 2 d. 1

6. When 22√3 is subtracted by 16√3, the difference is

a. −6√3 b. 6√6 c. 6√10 d. 6√3

7. The product of (√3𝑎3 𝑏5 )(√27𝑎3 𝑏3 ) is

a. 9𝑎𝑏 b. 9𝑎3 𝑏4 c. 9𝑎3 𝑏 3 d. 9𝑎2 𝑏3

√𝑥−1
8. To rationalize the denominator of the radical expression 1+ √2
,
multiply both numerator and denominator by
a. √2 b. 1 +√2 c. −1 − √2 d. 1 - √2

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 REFERENCE

Bryant, M., et al. 2014. Mathematics Grade 9 Learner’s

Module First Edition. Pasig City: DepEd-IMCS

SYNOPSIS ANSWER KEY

This Self Learning Kit is focused on
problem solving in Mathematics especially on
operations on radical expressions. d 8.
b 7.
The learners are expected to develop d 6.
their skills and knowledge and use them in b 5.
real-life situations. b 4.
c 3.
b 2.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

a 1.

POST TEST
7
4.
11+√2

3. 105 + 14√10
.
2. 4√2

1. √3

B.

A. 1. a ,b and c

Ianne Rey S. Maghanoy is a What have I learned

Teacher I of Cabcaban Community a 8.
High School. He finished his c 7.
Bachelor in Secondary Education d 6.

major in Mathematics at Villaflores

c 5.
a 4.
College of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. c 3.
a 2.
b 1.

PRE- TEST

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 DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SCHOOLS DIVISION OF NEGROS ORIENTAL

SENEN PRISCILLO P. PAULIN, CESO V

Schools Division Superintendent

NILITA L. RAGAY, EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent
Acting CID Chief

JOELYZA M. ARCILLA, EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

MARCELO K. PALISPIS, EdD

OIC - Assistant Schools Division Superintendent

ROSELA R. ABIERA
Education Program Supervisor – (LRMS)

ELISA L. BAGUIO, EdD

Education Program Supervisor in MATH

MARICEL S. RASID
Librarian II (LRMDS)

ELMAR L. CABRERA
PDO II (LRMDS)

IANNE REY S. MAGHANOY

Writer

CHRISTIAN EVEN D. SANTILLAN

Illustrator/ Lay-out Artist
_________________________________

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