420 (8-8) Chapter 8 Powers and Roots

8.2 SIMPLIFYING SQUARE ROOTS

In Section 8.1 you learned to simplify some radical expressions using the product
In this rule. In this section you will learn three basic rules to follow for writing expressions
section involving square roots in simplest form. These rules can be extended to radicals
with index greater than 2, but we will not do that in this text.
G Using the Product Rule
G Rationalizing the
Denominator
Using the Product Rule
G Simplified Form of a Square We can use the product rule to simplify square roots of certain numbers. For
Root example,

?4??5 ? ?9????5 Factor 45 as 9 ? 5.

? ?9? ? ?5? Product rule for radicals

? 3?5? ?9? ? 3

Because 45 is not a perfect square, we cannot write ?4??5 without the radical sym-
bol. However, 3?5? is considered a simpler expression that represents the exact
value of ?4??5. When simplifying square roots, we can factor the perfect squares out
of the radical and replace them with their square roots. Look for the factors

4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, and so on.

E X A M P L E 1 Simplifying radicals using the product rule

Simplify.
a) ?1??2 b) ?5??0 c) ?7??2
Solution
calculator a) Because 12 ? 4 ? 3, we can use the product rule to write

?1?2? ? ?4? ? ?3? ? 2?3?.

close-up b) ?5??0 ? ?2??5 ? ?2? ? 5?2?

c) Note that 4, 9, and 36 are perfect squares and are factors of 72. In factoring out a
You can use a calculator to see
that ?12? and 2?3? agree for
perfect square, it is most efficient to use the largest perfect square:
the first 10 digits (out of infi-
?7?2? ? ?3??6 ? ?2? ? 6?2?
nitely many). Having the same
first 10 digits does not make If we had factored out 9, we could still get the correct answer as follows:
?12? = 2?3?. The product rule
for radicals guarantees that ?7??2 ? ?9? ? ?8? ? 3 ? ?8? ? 3 ? ?4? ? ?2? ? 3 ? 2?2? ? 6?2? I
they are equal.

Rationalizing the Denominator

Radicals such as ?2?, ?3?, and ?5? are irrational numbers. So a fraction such
3
as ? has an irrational denominator. Because fractions with rational denominators
?5?
are considered simpler than fractions with irrational denominators, we usually
convert fractions with irrational denominators to equivalent ones with rational
denominators. That is, we rationalize the denominator.
 8.2 Simplifying Square Roots (8-9) 421

E X A M P L E 2 Rationalizing denominators
Simplify each expression by rationalizing its denominator.
3 ?3?
a) ? b) ?
?5? ?7?
Solution
a) Because ?5? ? ?5? ? 5, we multiply numerator and denominator by ?5?:
3 3 ? ?5?
??? Multiply numerator and denominator by ?5?.
?5? ?5? ? ?5?
3??5
? ?? ?5? ? ?5? ? 5
5
b) Because ?7? ? ?7? ? 7, multiply the numerator and denominator by ?7?:
?3? ?3? ? ?7?
??? Multiply numerator and denominator by ?7?.
?7? ?7? ? ?7?
??2?1
? ?? Product rule for radicals
7 I

Simplified Form of a Square Root

When we simplify any expression, we try to write a “simpler” expression that is
equivalent to the original. However, one person’s idea of simpler is sometimes dif-
ferent from another person’s. For a square root the expression must satisfy three
conditions to be in simplified form. These three conditions provide specific rules to
follow for simplifying square roots.

Simplified Form for Square Roots

An expression involving a square root is in simplified form if it has

1. no perfect-square factors inside the radical,
2. no fractions inside the radical, and
3. no radicals in the denominator.

Because a decimal is a form of a fraction, a simplified square root should not

contain any decimal numbers. Also, a simplified expression should use the fewest
number of radicals possible. So we write ?6? rather than ?2? ? ?3? even though
both ?2? and ?3? are both in simplified form.

E X A M P L E 3 Simplified form for square roots

Write each radical expression in simplified form.
2 ?1??0
a) ?3?0?0? ??
b) ??
5
c) ?
?6?
Solution
a) We must remove the perfect square factor of 100 from inside the radical:
?3??0?0 ? ?1?0?0????3 ? ?1??0?0 ? ?3? ? 10?3?
422 (8-10) Chapter 8 Powers and Roots

2
calculator b) We first use the quotient rule to remove the fraction ?? from inside the radical:
5

?5??? ? ?2
2 ?
? Quotient rule for radicals
close-up ?5?
?2? ? ?5?
Using a calculator to check ?? Rationalize the denominator.
simplification problems will ?5? ? ?5?
help you to understand the ??1?0
concepts. ? ?? Product rule for radicals
5
c) The numerator and denominator have a common factor of ?2?:
?1??0 ?2? ? ?5?
??? Product rule for radicals
?6? ?2? ? ?3?
???5?
Reduce.
?3?
?5? ? ?3?
?? Rationalize the denominator.
?3? ? ?3?
??1?5
? ?? Product rule for radicals
3
?1?0?
Note that we could have simplified ?? by first using the quotient rule to get
?6?
? ???6?? and then reducing
?1?0? 10 10 ?1?0?
?? ??. Another way to simplify ?? is to first
?6? 6 ?6?
multiply the numerator and denominator by ?6?. You should try these alterna-
?1?5?
tives. Of course, the simplified form is ??
3
by any method. I

In the next example we simplify some expressions involving variables. Re-

member that any exponential expression with an even exponent is a perfect square.

E X A M P L E 4 Radicals containing variables

Simplify each expression. All variables represent nonnegative real numbers.
a) ?x?3
b) ?8??a?9
c) ?1??8a??4b7?

Solution
a) ?x?3 ? ?x?2???x The largest perfect square factor of x 3 is x 2.

? ?x?2 ? ?x? Product rule for radicals

? x?x? For any nonnegative x, ?x?2 ? x.

b) ?8??
a 9? ? ?4??
a ?8 ? ?2??a The largest perfect square factor of 8a 9 is 4a 8.

? 2a 4?2??a ?4?a?8? ? 2a 4

c) ?1??8a??
4b7? ? ?9 4b6? ? ?2
?a?? ?b? Factor out the perfect squares.
2 3
? 3a b ?2??b ?9??
a?4b6? ? 3a 2b3 I
 8.2 Simplifying Square Roots (8-11) 423

If square roots of variables appear in the denominator, then we rationalize the

denominator.

E X A M P L E 5 Radicals containing variables

Simplify each expression. All variables represent positive real numbers.
5
a) ??
?a?
a
b) ????
b
?2?
c) ?
?6?a?
Solution
helpful hint
5 5 ? ?a?
If you are going to compute
a) ?? ? ? Multiply numerator and denominator by ?a?.
?a? ?a? ? ?a?
the value of a radical expres-
sion with a calculator, it 5?a?
? ?? ?a? ? ?a? ? a
doesn’t matter if the denomi- a
nator is rational. However,
a
rationalizing the denominator
provides another opportunity
b) ??b?? ? ?a
?
?
?b?
Quotient rule for radicals

to practice building up the

denominator of a fraction and ?a? ? ?b?
?? Rationalize the denominator.
multiplying radicals. ?b? ? ?b?
?a?b?
? ?? Product rule for radicals
b
?2? ?2? ? ?6??a
c) ? ? ?? Rationalize the denominator.
?6?a? ?6?a? ? ?6??a
??12??a
? ?? Product rule for radicals
6a
?4? ? ?3?a?
? ?? Factor out the perfect square.
6a
2?3?a?
? ?? ?4? ? 2
6a
2??3a?
? ?? Factor the denominator.
2 ? 3a
??3?a
? ?? Divide out the common factor 2.
3a I

CAUTION Do not attempt to reduce an expression like the one in

Example 5(c):
?3??a
??
3a
You cannot divide out common factors when one is inside a radical.
424 (8-12) Chapter 8 Powers and Roots

WARM-UPS
True or false? Explain your answer.
1. ?2??0 ? 2?5? True 2. ?1??8 ? 9?2? False
1 ?3? 9 3
3. ?? ? ?? True 4. ?? ? ?? False
??3 3 4 2
5. ?a?? ? a?a? for any positive value of a. True
3

6. ?a?9? ? a 3 for any positive value of a. False

7. ?y?1?7 ? y 8?y? for any positive value of y. True
??6
8. ?? ? ?3? False 9. ?4? ? ?2? False 10. ?2?8?3? ? 17 False
2

8. 2 EXERCISES
Reading and Writing After reading this section, write out the Simplify each expression by rationalizing the denominator. See
answers to these questions. Use complete sentences. Example 2.
1. How do we simplify a radical with the product rule? 1 1 3
19. ?? 20. ?? 21. ??
We use the product rule to factor out a perfect square from ?5? ??6 ??2
inside a square root. ?5? ?6? 3?2?
?? ?? ??
2. Which integers are perfect squares? 5 6 2
The perfect squares are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, and so on. 4 ??3 ??7
22. ?? 23. ?? 24. ??
3. What does it mean to rationalize a denominator? ?3? ??2 ??6
To rationalize a denominator means to rewrite the expres- 4?3? ?6? ?4?2?
sion so that the denominator is a rational number. ?? ?? ??
3 2 6
4. What is simplified form for a square root? ?3 ?4 ?10
A square root in simplified form has no perfect squares or 25. ?? 26. ?? 27. ??
?1?0? ?5? ?1?7?
fractions inside the radical and no radicals in the ?3?1??0 4?5? ?10??1?7
denominator. ?? ??? ??
10 5 17
5. How do you simplify a square root that contains a variable? ?3 ?1??1 ??1?0
To simplify a square root containing variables, use the same 28. ?? 29. ?? 30. ??
techniques as we use on square roots of numbers. ??19? ??7 ??3
3??1?9 ?7?7? ?3?0?
6. How can you tell if an exponential expression is a perfect ??? ?? ??
19 7 3
square?
Any even power of a variable is a perfect square. Write each radical expression in simplified form. See Example 3.
3
Assume that all variables in the exercises represent positive real 31. ?6?3? 32. ?4??8 ??
33. ??
2
numbers.
?6?
Simplify each radical. See Example 1. 3?7? 4?3? ??
2
7. ?8? 8. ?2??0 9. ?2??4 3 5 5
2?2? 2?5? 2?6? ??
34. ??
5 ??
35. ??
8 ? ??
36. ??
18
10. ?7?5? 11. ?2?8? 12. ?4??0 ?1?5? ?1?0? ?1?0?
?? ?? ??
5?3? 2?7? 2?1?0? 5 4 6
13. ?9?0? 14. ?2??0?0 15. ?5??0?0 ?6? ?1??2 ??7?5
37. ?? 38. ?? 39. ??
3?1?0? 10?2? 10?5? ?1?0? ??2?0 ??3
16. ?9?8? 17. ?1??5?0 18. ?1??2?0 ??15? ?1?5?
?? ?? 5
7?2? 5?6? 2?3?0? 5 5
?4?5? ?1??5 ??3?0
40. ?? 41. ?? 42. ??
?5? ??1?0 ??2?1
?6? ?7?0?
3 ?? ??
2 7
 8.2 Simplifying Square Roots (8-13) 425

Simplify each expression. See Example 4. Solve each problem.

43. ?a?8? 44. ?y?10? 45. ?a??9 83. Economic order quantity. The formula for economic
a4 y5 a4?a? order quantity
46. ?t?1?1 47. ?8?a?6? 48. ?1?8?w
?9? 2AS
t 5?t? 2a3?2? 4
3w ?2?? w E? ????I??
49. ?2??0?a4?b?9 50. ?1?2??y
x2?3 51. ?2?7??y
x3?3 was used in Exercise 83 of Section 8.1.
2a2b4?5??b 2xy?3?y? 3xy?3??xy a) Express the right-hand side in simplified form.
52. ?4??5x?y
5?3 53. ?2?7?a?3?b8?c?2 54. ?1?2?5??y
x3?z
9?4 ?2??A?
IS
2
E ? ??
3x y?5?xy? 3ab4c?3??a 4 2
5xy z ?5?? xy I
b) Find E when A ? 23, S ? $4566, and I ? $80.
Simplify each expression. See Example 5.
51.2
1 1 ?2?
55. ?? 56. ?? 57. ??
??x ?2??x ?3?a?
??x ?2?x? ??6?a
?? ?? ??
x 2x 3a
??5 ??3 ??5
58. ?? 59. ?? 60. ??
??2?b ?1?5??y ?1?0??x
??1?0?b ?5?y? ??2?x
?? ?? ??
2b 5y 2x
3x 6 10y
61. ??? ??
2y
62. ?? ? ??
5w
63. ???
??
15x
??6?xy ?3?0?w? ??6?xy
?? ?? ??
2y 5w 3x

?8??yx?? ???8ts??
3 5
6x
64. ? ??
??
4y
65. 66. FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 83
??6?
xy 2x?2??
xy 2s2??2st
?
?? ?? ?? 84. Landing speed. Aircraft design engineers determine the
2y y t
proper landing speed V (in ft/sec) by using the formula
Simplify each expression.
67. ?8??0x?3
4x?5??x
68. ?9?0??
40
y80?
3y ?1??0
69. ?9??x
y9?1?5
4 7
3y x ?yx ?
V?
??
841L
?,
CS

20x6 7x7y where L is the gross weight of the aircraft in pounds, C is

70. ?4??8x?y
2?7 71. ?? 72. ?? the coefficient of lift, and S is the wing surface area in
?5?? x5 ?7??x9
square feet.
4xy3?3?y? 4x 3?5??x x 2y?7?x? a) Express the right-hand side in simplified form.
? 22p2 ?30t 5 a3b7?a?? 2b ?
3c4?
29?? LC??S
73. ?? 74. ? ? 75. ?? V ? ??
p??6?p?q t 2?3?t? ?a??b?c CS
?11??6p?q? b) Find V when L ? 8600 pounds, C ? 2.81, and S ? 200
?? ?10t2?3??t a3b8c?a?c?
3q square feet.
3n4b5??n2?b?c?
2 7 ??4xy2 113.4
?8?m ??n?
3 2
76. ?? 77. ?? 78. ??
?n?b?c? x9y3??6?
xy3? m3n2?6?m??n3?
?6??y 2??3?n
3n4b5c3?n??b ?9?4 ??
3x y 3m 2n3

Use a calculator to evaluate each expression.

1 ?2? ??2 ?6?
79. ?? ? ?? 80. ?? ? ??
??2 2 ??3 3
0 0
??6 ?2?0?
81. ?? ? ?3? 82. 2 ? ??
??2 ?5?
0 0 FIGURE FOR EXERCISE 84