MODULE NO.

13-14: LAWS OF RADICALS

In this lesson, your goal is to learn and understand the key concepts of laws of radicals.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. derive the laws of radicals; and
2. simplify radical expressions using the laws of radicals.

Exponent – a number that says how many times the base is to be multiplied by itself.
Radical – is an expression that uses a root, such as square root, cube root, etc.

Let’s start with this pre-assessment through answering the following questions. This
will help you later in the lesson about laws on radicals.
Pre-assessment: Read the questions carefully. Write your answer before the number.
4 √15
___ 1. What is the simplified form of ?
2 √6
2√ 5
A. 12√ 90 B. 2 √10 C. √ 10 D.
2

___ 1. What is the simplified form of √ 20 a2 b4 ?

A. 2 a b2 √5 B. 5 a b2 √ 2 C. 4 a b2 √ 2 D. 2 a2 b2 √ 5

___ 1. What is the result when we simplify √4 −81 ?

A. -9 B. 3 C. 9 D. not possible

Let us now learn how to simplify radical expressions through the following laws on radicals.
a. (√n a)n = a
Examples: (√3 4 )3 = 4 √ 64 = √ 82 = 8

b. √n a b = √n a √n b
Examples: √ 50 = √ 25 ● √ 2 = 5√ 2 √3 −32 x 5 = √3 −23 x 3 ● √3 22 x 2 = -2x √3 4 x 2

√ a √a
n
n
c. = ,b>0
b √n b

√
−64 √ (−4 ) −4
√ x = √ (x ) = x
3 3 12 2 12
24
3
Examples: 6 = 3 = 2
x √(x2 )3 x 9 √ 32 3

d. m√ √n a = mn√ a = √n m√ a
Examples: √6 4 = √ √ 22 = √3 2 √3 √ 27 = √ √3 27 = √ √3 33 = √ 3
3

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SIMPLIFYING RADICALS
a. Removing Perfect nth Powers
Break down the radicand into perfect and nonperfect nth powers and apply the property
√ ab = √ a √n b .
n n

Example: √ 8 x5 y 6 z13 = √ 22 (x¿ ¿2)2 ( y ¿¿ 3)2( z¿¿ 6)2 ¿ ¿ ¿ ● √ 2 xz = 2x2y3z6 √ 2 xz

b. Reducing the index to the lowest possible order

Express the radical into an expression with a rational exponent then simplify the
exponent or apply the property m√ √n a = mn√ a = √n m√ a .
Example: 20√ 32 m15 n5 = √√2 (m ) n = √2 m n
4 5 5 3 5 5 4 3

c. Rationalizing the denominator of the radicand

Rationalization is the process of removing the radical sign in the denominator.

√ √ √ √3 6 k 2
√
2 2 2
3 3 3 2 k 6k
Example: = 3 2 ⦁ 2 = 3 3 3 = 3 3 3 = 3 6k
4k 2 k 2 k 2 k √2 k 2k

The simplified form of a radical expression would require;

NO prime factor of a radicand that has an exponent equal to or greater than the index.
NO radicand contains a fraction.
NO denominator contains a radical sign.

Now that you already understand the laws of radicals, let’s check how much you
have learned by doing the following activity
Activity 1: Express the following in simplest form. Write you solution and answer on the space
provided. (3 pts. each)
1. √ 80 =
4. √6 73 =

2. √5 210 =
5. √ √3 8 =

3. √ x y 3

REFERENCES
https://freesvg.org/happy-pencil-vector-image
https://www.mathopenref.com/radical.html#:~:text=An%20expression%20that%20uses%20a,a
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/5c6a72c2cf96c2001a50485a/grade-radicals
Tordillo, J. (2002). SIMPLIFIED ALGEBRA with dictionary. DMC Busa Printers, Sanciangco
St., Cebu City.
Bryant, M. et. al. (2014). MATHEMATICS Learner’s Material 9. 3 rd Floor, Bonifacio Bldg.
DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600. Department of Education.
Vibal Group, Inc.

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