Lesson 3.

8: Addition and
Subtraction of Radical
Expression
P re p a re d B y : S h e r r y M a e V. C a b a ñ o g
 Lesson Objectives
Differentiate similar radicals to dissimilar
radicals.
Add and subtract radical expressions.
Understand and use such operations as taking
the opposite, finding the reciprocal, taking a root,
raising to a fractional power, and using the rules
of exponents.

L E S S O N 3 . 8 : A D D I TI O N A N D S U B T R A C T I O N O F R A D I C A L E
Always remember in the radical notation,

√ is the radical sign is the

radicand
is the index or order of radical is the coefficient of the radicals

If no index is given, it is understood to be 2.

LESSON 3.8: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXPRESSION

 Similar Radicals Dissimilar Radicals

same radicands but

Indexes differ

Same Same indexes but

indexes and radicands differ
radicands

Indexes and
radicands differ

Similar and Dissimilar Radicals

L E S S O N 3 . 8 : A D D IT I O N A N D S U B T R A C T I O N O F R A D I C A L E X P R ES S I O N
Similar and Dissimilar Radicals

Therefore …

Similar Radicals
Radicals are called similar radicals, when they have the
same index and the same radicand.
Dissimilar Radicals
Radicals are called dissimilar radicals, when they either
differ in index or radicand.

LESSON 3.8: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP

Tell whether the given sets of radicals are similar or dissimilar.

SIMILAR RADICALS
DISSIMILAR RADICALS

DISSIMILAR RADICALS

DISSIMILAR RADICALS
SIMILAR RADICALS

Similar or Dissimilar?
L E S S O N 1 : A D D ITIO N A N D S U BT R A C T I O N O F R A D I C A L E X P R E S S I O N
Rule Similar radicals can be combined by adding or subtracting.

Addition and Subtraction of Similar Radicals

LESSON 3.8: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP

Adding Similar Radicals

Example #:

1.
Solution:
2√ 5+ 4 √5
¿ (2 + 4 ) √5
¿ 𝟔 √ 𝟓
LESSON 3.8: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Adding Similar Radicals

Example #:

2.
Solution:
6 √ 3 𝑎+ √ 3 𝑎
¿ ( 6 + 1) √ 3 𝑎
¿ 𝟕 √ 𝟑 𝒂
LESSON 3.8: ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Radicals

Example #:

¿ (4 +9)
√ 2
3. 5
or
Solution:
¿4 √ 2
+9 √ 2
√ 25 √ 25
¿4
√ 2
+9
√ 2
5 5
Subtracting Similar Radicals

Example #:

1.
Solution:
6 √𝑥 −2 √𝑥
¿ (6 − 2 ) √𝑥
¿ 𝟒 √ 𝒙
LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Subtracting Similar Radicals

Example #:

2.
Solution:
3 √ 2− 5 3
3
√2 3

¿ (3 − 5 ) √2
¿ −𝟐
𝟑
√𝟐
LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Addition and Subtraction of Similar Radicals

Example #:

1.
Solution:
6 √2 + 9 √ 2 − 4 √ 2
¿ (6 + 9 − 4 ) √ 2
¿ 𝟏𝟏 √𝟐
LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Addition and Subtraction of Similar Radicals

Example #: Note: we cannot subtract/add the

coefficients of different radicand,
therefore 5√5 − 4√3 is the sum of
2. 9√5 − 4√5 − 6√3 + 2√3 .

Solution:
9 √ 5 − 4 √ 5 − 6 √ 3 +2 √ 3
Group similar radicals

Subtract coefficients of similar

radical

LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP

Addition and Subtraction of Similar Radicals

Example #

2.
Solution:
2 √ 𝑥𝑦 +2 √ 𝑦 − 9 √ 𝑥𝑦
Group similar radicals

¿ (2 − 9 ) √ 𝑥𝑦 + 2 √ 𝑦
Subtract coefficients of similar radical

LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP

Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Radicals
Sometimes radicals do not appear to be like until they are simplified. Simplify
all radicals in an expression before trying to identify like radicals.
Solution:
𝟕 √ 𝟐𝟕 + 𝟑 √ 𝟕𝟓
Example #: ¿ 7 √ (9 )(3 )+ 3 √ (25 )( 3 )
1. ¿ 7 (3 ) √ 3 +3 (5 ) √ 3
¿ 21 √ 3 + 15 √ 3
¿ ( 21 + 15 ) √3
¿ 𝟑𝟔 √𝟑
LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP
Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Radicals

Example #:
Solution:
2. 5 √ 32 − 3 √ 108
3 3

¿ 5 √ 8 ( 4)− 3 √ 27 (4 )
3 3

¿ 5 ( 2) √ 4 −3 √ 4
3 3

¿
𝟑
√ 𝟒
LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EX
 Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Radicals

Example #:

3.
¿ 𝟒𝟑 √𝟐
Solution:
√ 8 − 3 √ 50 +8 √ 72
5 √ 4( 2) −3 √ 25 (2)+8 √ 36 (2)
¿ 5 (2) √ 2 − 3 (5) √ 2+8( 6) √ 2

LESSON 3.8 : ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF RADICAL EXP

 Addition and Subtraction of Dissimilar Radicals

Example #:

4.
Solution:
𝑏 4 𝑎𝑏 √ 3 𝑏+ 9𝟑
𝑎𝑏 √ 3
3 3
2 √ 24 𝑎 𝑏 +3 𝑎 √ 81¿
3 3 4 3 4

¿ 3𝟏𝟑 𝒂𝒃 √ 𝟑
¿ 2 √ 8 ( 3 ) 𝑎 𝑏 𝑏+ 3 𝑎 √ 27 (3) 𝑏 𝑏
3 3 3 3

¿ 2( 2)( 𝑎)( 𝑏) √ 3 𝑏+ 3 𝑎 (3)(𝑏) √ 3 𝑏

3 3
THANK YOU !