Cover

Cover
 If b 2 = a, then b is a square root of a.

Meaning Positive Negative The positive and

Square Root Square Root negative square
roots

Symbol

Example
 Radical Expressions
Finding a root of a number is the inverse operation of raising
a number to a power.
radical sign
index
radicand

This symbol is the radical or the radical sign

 The expression under the radical sign is the radicand.

 The index defines the root to be taken.
 Square Roots

A square root of any positive number has two roots –

one is positive and the other is negative.
If a is a positive number, then
is the positive (principal) square
root of a and
is the negative square root of a.
Examples:

non-real #
What does the following symbol represent?

The symbol represents the positive or

principal root of a number.

What is the radicand of the expression ?

5xy
What does the following symbol represent?

The symbol represents the negative root of

a number.

What is the index of the expression ?

3
What numbers are perfect squares?

1•1=1
2•2=4
3•3=9
4 • 4 = 16
5 • 5 = 25
6 • 6 = 36
49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, ...
Perfect Squares
1 64 225
4 81 256
9 100 289
16 121 324
25 144 400
36 169 625
49 196
=2

=4

=5

= 10

= 12
 Rational Exponents

The value of the numerator represents the power of the

radicand.
The value of the denominator represents the index or root of
the expression.
Examples:
 Rational Exponents

More Examples:

or
 Rational Exponents
or or

Examples:

or
 Rational Exponents
Use the properties of exponents to simplify each expression
Cover
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Simplifying Radical Expressions

• A radical has been simplified when its radicand contains no

perfect square factors.
• Test to see if it can be divided by 4, then 9, then 25, then 49,
etc.
• Sometimes factoring the radicand using the “tree” is helpful.
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

= =

LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM = =

= =

= =

= =
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

= =

LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM = =

= =

= =

= =
Steps to Simplify Radicals:
1. Try to divide the radicand into a perfect square for numbers
2. If there is an exponent make it even by using rules of exponents
3. Separate the factors to its own square root
4. Simplify
Simplify:

Square root of a variable to an

even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
Simplify:

Square root of a variable to an

even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:

Square root of a variable to an

even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
Simplify:

Square root of a variable to an

even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:

 
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
 Terminology:
• square root: one of two equal factors of a given number. The radicand is like the
“area” of a square and the simplified answer is the length of the side of the squares.
• Principal square root: the positive square root of a number; the principal square
root of 9 is 3.
• negative square root: the negative square root of 9 is –3 and is shown like

• radical: the symbol which is read “the square root of a” is called a radical.
• radicand: the number or expression inside a radical symbol --- 3 is the
radicand.
• perfect square: a number that is the square of an integer. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, etc…
are perfect squares.
• irrational number: a number whose decimal form is nonterminating and
nonrepeating.
• Rational number: a number that can be written in the form a/b, where a and b are
integers (b cannot equal 0)
• radical expression: an expression that contains a radical.
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
Simplify:
 Simplify

1. .

2. .

3. .

4. .
 Simplify

1. 3x6
2. 3x18
3. 9x 6

4. 9x18