are 1.

15 Lesson: Simplifying radicals

g an
upported NOTE: The content in Unit 1, and in this speci5c lesson, is foundational for buildin
wser. remainder of this learning resource, Units 2 through 5. However, since it is basica
se see
not be directly assessed on your high-stakes exam.
ems
irements Lesson introduction
e
a list You will no doubt remember using the radical sign -- √x √x -- to indicate taking the r
3
since 3 ⋅ 3 = 93 ⋅ 3 = 9. Recall that √3 x √x indicates taking the cube root of xx, $\s
pported
wsers. you'll see how to simplify radicals with fractional exponents.

Simplifying radicals

Radicals can be simpliFed by Frst rewriting as a fractional exponent, and then using

Simplifying radicals with fractional exponents.

3
√‾x‾12‾ √x 12
3

1
√a
12 1
3 3
= (x ) = (x ) 3
3 12
‾ √a rewritten as
1
12⋅ 1
=x 3 = x4 = x 12 ⋅ 3 = x 4 Raising a raised ter

PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY
1.15.1: Simplifying radicals.

Assume all variables represent positive numbers.

1) 3 1
√‾777
‾‾‾12‾ = (77712 ) ? Correct
3 1

√77712 = (77712) ?
3 3
√ x √x is just a
12 consider 777

6
3

2) 2 1
√‾777
‾‾‾‾8 = (7778 ) 2 = 7778 ⋅ ?
2 1

√777 8 = (777 8) 2 = 777 8 ⋅ ?

1 1
2 2

3) 2 ‾‾ 2
√x 8 = x ? √x 8 = x ? Correct
2 2
8 √ ‾‾
x 8 √x 8
1
6 8 1
(x ) 2 (x 8) 2
1
4 8 ⋅ 1
x 2 x8 ⋅ 2
x 4 x4

4) 25 ‾‾75
√x ‾
25
= ?√x 75 = ? Correct
1
x 3 x3 75 1
(x ) 25 (x 75) 25
1
x 50 x 50 x
75 ⋅
25
1
x 75 ⋅ 25
x 3 x3

√‾(ab
5) 25 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
+ 99)75‾ =?
25 Correct
75
√(ab + 99) = ?
75
1
((ab + 99) ) 25
(ab + 99)3 (ab + 99) 3 75 ⋅
1
(ab + 99) 25
Can't be simpliFed (ab + 99)3 (ab + 9
 6) √‾x‾10‾ = ? √x 10 = ?
Correct

x 5 x5 means 2
√ .
√ √

2
√
2 2
Unknown; missing root √ ‾x‾10‾ √x 10
number. 1
10 ⋅ 1
x 2 x 10 ⋅ 2

x 5 x5

The same applies for other expressions like a product of radicals: First convert to fra

Simplifying the product of radicals.

√‾‾
x 3 √‾‾
x 5 √x 3 √x 5

1 1 1
3⋅ 5⋅ b
√a
‾ √a rewritten as a
1 1
=x 2 x 2 = x3 ⋅ 2 x5 ⋅ 2
b b

3 5 3 5
=x 2 x 2 = x2 x2 Raising a raised term m

3 5
+ 3
=x
5
2 2 = x2 +
2
Multiplying terms with

8 8
=x 2 = x2 Simplify

= x4 = x4

PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY
1.15.2: Simplifying products of radicals.
1) 3 ‾‾ 3
√x 4 √‾x‾11‾
3 3

√x √x11 4
Correct
1 1
4⋅ 11⋅ 1 1
x 3 x 3 x 4 ⋅ 3 x 11 ⋅ 3 5
4 11
+ 4
15
x
11
3 3 x3 +
3 The fractions add to
3
x? x ?

(Answer is a whole number)

Check Show answer

2) 2 ‾‾ 2 5 2 32 5
√x 3 √‾‾
x x x √ √ Correct
1 1
3⋅ 5⋅ 1 1
x x 2 2 x3 ⋅ 2 x5 ⋅ 2 4
x? x ? 8
The fractions add to
2
(Answer is a whole number)

Check Show answer

3) 4 ‾‾ 4 3 4 54 3
√x 5 √‾‾
x x x √ √ Correct
x? x ? 2

(Answer is a whole number) 8

The fractions add to
4

Check Show answer

4) 44 3
9√‾‾ ‾‾
4 4
x5 √x 9√x 5√x 3 Correct
9x ? 9x ? 2

(Answer is a whole number) The constant 9 9 is not r

1 1
5⋅ 3⋅ 1 1
9x 4 x 4 9x 5 ⋅ 4 x 3 ⋅ 4
5 3
+ 5
9x 4 4 9x 4
3
+
4

Check Show answer

9x 2 9x 2
 a a
A fractional exponent x b x b can be written as a radical with root b b and power a a:

PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY
1.15.3: Fractional exponents as radical and powe

1) 3
4
= √‾‾
3 4
x 4 x3 x 4 = √x 3 Correct

True The 4 4th (denominator)

False

2) 5
5 2
x‾‾x 2
5 5
x 2 =√ = √x 2 Correct

True The 2 2nd root is being ta

False

3) 7
= √‾‾
7
x 2 x7 x 2 = √x 7 Correct

True The 2 2nd root is being ta

for .
√

√
False

4) 2
3 ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
(xyz + 1) 3 =√ (xyz + 1)2 C
2 3
(xyz + 1) 3 = √(xyz + 1)2 T
w
True b

False

5) 6
2
= √x‾‾6 x 2
6 2
x 2 = √x 6 Correct

True The answer can be furth

2
3
False √x 6 = x
Actually, the fraction cou
6
= x 3 x 2 = x 3.
6
x 2

Radicals can be simpliFed even if the number is not a perfect square, cube, etc. A si
the radical.
Simplifying radicals.

√18
‾‾
‾ √18
1 b
√a
1
= 18 2 = 18 2 ‾ √a rewritten a
b

1 1
= (9 ⋅ 2) 2 = (9 ⋅ 2) 2 Factor the term in

1 1
=9 2 ⋅2 2
1
= 92 ⋅ 22
1
(a ⋅ b)n = an ⋅ b
1 1
=3⋅2 2 = 3 ⋅ 22

= 3√2‾ = 3√2

PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY
1.15.4: Pulling out factors from a radical.

Assume all variables represent positive numbers.

1) 1 1
75 2 75 2 Correct
1 1
(25 ⋅ 3) (25 ⋅ 3) 2
2 5
1 1 1 1
25 2 ⋅ 3 2 25 2 ⋅ 3 2 1 1

1 25 2 = 5 25 2 = 5
1
? ⋅ 3 ? ⋅ 32
2

Check Show answer

2) √45
‾‾
‾ √45
1 Correct
1
45 2 45 2 3
1 1
(9 ⋅ 5) 2 (9 ⋅ 5) 2 1 1
1 1 1 1 9 2 = 39 2 = 3
9 ⋅ 5 92 ⋅ 52
2 2

?√5‾ ? √5

Check Show answer

3) √99
‾‾
‾ √99
Correct
√‾9‾‾‾‾
⋅ 11‾ √9 ⋅ 11
√9‾ ⋅ √11
‾‾
‾ √9 ⋅ √11 3

?√11‾‾
‾ ? √11 The factoring and pulling

radical, just rememberin

Check Show answer

4) √64
‾‾
‾ = ?√64 = ?
Correct

8
Check Show answer Factoring isn't always ne

5) √16x
‾‾‾‾ = ?√x √16x = ? √x
Correct

4
Check Show answer
√ ‾16
‾‾‾
⋅ x‾ √16 ⋅ x
4√ x4√x

6) √32x
‾‾‾‾ √32x
Correct
√‾16
‾‾‾‾‾‾
⋅ 2 ⋅ ‾x √16 ⋅ 2 ⋅ x
?√2x‾‾ ? √2x 4

The factoring is done wi

unaffected.

Check Show answer

7) 3 250x
‾‾‾‾‾ 250x
3
√ √ Correct
3
125
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
⋅ 2 ⋅ ‾
x
3
√ √125 ⋅ 2 ⋅ x 5
3
?√2x
‾‾ ? √2x
3

The approach applies fo

root.

Check Show answer

8) 3 ‾‾‾‾ 3
√4x 3
√4x3 Correct
3
?√ 4‾ ? √4
3
x

The item pulled out may

constant.
Check Show answer

9) 3 ‾‾‾‾‾3 3
√64x √64x3 Correct
?x ? x 4

The items pulled out ma

variables.
Check Show answer

10) √‾‾
x 3 √x 3
Correct
√‾x‾2 ‾x √x 2x x
?√x ? √x
The factoring can be don

Check Show answer

11) √‾12x
‾‾‾‾3 √12x 3
Correct
√4‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
⋅ 3 ⋅ x 2‾x
2
?x√3x ‾‾
The factoring can be don

Check Show answer

A number raised to an even power yields a non-negative result. Ex: (−4)2 = 16 . Sim
negative. When an even root of variable with a power is taken, any variable moved o
because the outcome is always non-negative. Ex: √‾‾x 2 = |x| .
The same is not true of odd powers or odd roots. Instead, odd powers maintain neg

PARTICIPATION
ACTIVITY
1.15.5: Even and odd roots of variables.

Variables may represent positive or negative values.

1) √‾(−3)
‾‾‾‾2 = ?
Correct
3
√‾(−3)
‾‾‾‾2 = √ 9‾ = 3
−3
3
2) √ ‾(−2)
‾‾‾‾3 =?
Correct
2 3⋅ 13
3 ‾‾‾‾‾
√ (−2)3 = (−2) =
−2
3) √‾‾
x6 = ?
Correct
|x 3 | The outcome of an even
x4 absolute value bars mus
moved outside of the rad
x3
‾|x|
‾‾‾6 = |x 6⋅ 12 | = |x 3
√

4) √‾4x
‾‾‾2 = ?
2|x|
2x
4|x|
4
5) √ ‾5x
‾‾‾8 =?
Correct
2 4
x √5‾ Absolute value bars are
5|x 2 | even power is never neg

4 ‾‾‾‾
5‾ ⋅ √‾‾
4 4 8
√ 5x 8 = √ x
4
=√ 5‾ ⋅ x 2
4
= x2 √ 5‾
Lesson exercises

Algebraic

Simplify the following.

Exercise 1.15.1

(a) √
3
‾16a
‾‾‾‾‾
3 ‾
b7
Solution !
2ab2 √3 2b
‾‾
‾

Exercise 1.15.2

‾25x
‾‾‾‾‾
4 ‾
√
9
(a) y

Solution !
5x 2 y4 √y

Exercise 1.15.3

1
(a) (162y4 ) 4
Solution !
1
3y(2) 4

Lesson summary
Before moving on, take a last moment to think about what you've learned in this less

A radical represents a fractional exponent, where the index of the radical is the
while the numerator of the fractional power corresponds to any exponent. For
3
on the radical, the power is implied to be one (that is, √ x = x 1/3 .
Since radicals are really fractional exponents, the same properties of exponen
you apply the properties of exponents to a problem with radicals compared to

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