Simplifying Radical

Expressions
LESSON 5-6
A radical is in its simplest form if:

1. The radicand does not contain a

perfect square, cube or nth power.
A radical is in its simplest form if:

2. There is no fraction in the radicand

or no radical in the denominator
A radical is in its simplest form if:

3. The index of the radical is the

lowest possible index.
Simplify radical expressions with:

1. perfect nth factor

2. a fraction radicand or denominator
3. reducible index.
Rewriting expressions with rational
exponent into radical form
+  

or
Rewriting expressions with rational
exponent into radical form
+  

or
+ The value of the numerator represents the power
of the radicand.
+ The value of the denominator represents the index
or root of the expression.
Properties of Radicals
• 

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
𝑎∙ 𝑏=
√ √ √ 𝑎𝑏
Properties of Radicals
• 
1.
2.
Properties of Radicals
• 
1.
2.
3.
Perfect Square Square Root Perfect Cube Cube Root

1 1 1 1

4 2 8 2

9 3 27 3

16 4 64 4

25 5 125 5

36 6 216 6

49 7 343 7

64 8 512 8

81 9 729 9

100 10 1000 10
 • 

A. Example #01. Simplify each radical

Simplifying a.
Radicals by
Reducing b.
the c.
Radicand d.
 • 

Example #02. Simplify.

A.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the
Radicand
 • 
Example #02. Simplify.
b.
A.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the
Radicand
 • 
Example #02. Simplify.
c.
A.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the
Radicand
 • 
Example #02. Simplify.
d.
A.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the
Radicand
 • 
Example #02. Simplify.
e.
A.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the
Radicand
 • 

Example #01. Express in simplest

radical form
B.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the Order
of Radicals
 • 

Example #01. Express in simplest

radical form
B. b.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the Order
of Radicals
 • 
Example #01. Express in simplest
radical form
B. c.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the Order
of Radicals
 • 

Example #01. Express in simplest

radical form
B. d.
Simplifying
Radicals by
Reducing
the Order
of Radicals
 • 

Example #01. Express in simplest

B. radical form
Simplifying e.
Radicals by
Reducing
the Order
of Radicals
 • 

Example #01. Simplify

C.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #01. Simplify

C. b.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #01. Simplify

C. c.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #01. Simplify

C. d.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #02. Simplify

C.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 
Example #02. Simplify
C. b.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #02. Simplify

C. c.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 

Example #02. Simplify

C. d.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 
Example #02. Simplify
C. e.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
 • 
Example #02. Simplify
C. f.
Simplifying
Expressions
with
Radicals in
the
Denominator
But just in case, what if a binomial is present in the
denominator with a radical term, how can we rationalize it?
But just in case, what if a binomial is present in the
denominator with a radical term, how can we rationalize it?

• Conjugates are extremely helpful when we want to

rationalize radical expressions.
• Two binomials are conjugates when they have the same
terms but opposite signs in the middle.
Examples

•1. 
Examples

•2.