Math 51

Worksheet
Introduction to Radicals
Radicals will be: evaluated, simplified, added, subtracted, multiplied and divided.

index

Square root or radical notation ⇒ Radicand

What number multiplied by itself gives the number under the radical?
• Perfect square numbers evaluate to rational numbers
 25 = 5 Because 5 ⋅ 5 = 25

• Other numbers require the use of a calculator and evaluate to irrational number
 13 = 3.605551275…

• Can you take the square root of a negative number? Why?

 − 16 = ??? Does (−4)(−4) = −16 No. So, the answer is not a real number.

Square roots have an index of 2 other radicals are possible index 3, 4, 5 and so on. But the definition is the same.
3 4
 125 = 5 Because, 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5 = 125 or 81 = 3 Because, 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 = 81 and so on.

Simplifying radicals
What is the square root of a variable raised to a power? x 6 = x 3 Why? Because x 3 ⋅ x 3 = x 6
6

Another way to think about it is divide the power by the index. x = x = x3

6 2
If the power does not divide
evenly then the variable must be factored first so that the power can be divided by the index.

14
4 14 4
Example: x =x The power does not reduce to a whole number. So, factor the part that does:

12
12 2
4
x x ⇒ x 4 4
x2 ⇒ x3 4 x2 ⇐ The remainder stays inside the radical.

Next Example: Simplify

 108 x 5 y 8 Problem? 108 is not a perfect square but one of its factors maybe.

 (36)(3) x 5 y 8 What about x 5 5 divide 2 does not work, so that must be factored as well.

 (36)(3) x 4 x y 8 Everything that can be simplified comes out of the radical and everything else
must stay inside.
4 8
4 8
 (36)(3) x x y ⇒ 6x y 2 2
3x ⇒ 6 x 2 y 4 3x

The same rules apply to all other radicals just the index changes.
6 15
3 7 15 3 6 15 3 3 3
Example: 135 x y ⇒ (27)(5) x x y ⇒ 3x y 5x Reduce all terms.
2 5 3
Answer: 3x y 5x
Multiply/Divide radicals: If the indexes are the same write as one radical.

Multiply
♦ 4
2x 3 y ⋅ 4 8x 5 y 2 ⇐ The indexes are the same “4”. So, write as one radical first.

♦ 4
2x 3 y ⋅ 8x 5 y 2 ⇐ Everything inside will multiply. Note: Remember your power rules.

♦ 4
2 ⋅ 8x 3 x 5 y y 2 ⇒ 4
16 x 8 y 3 ⇒ Reduce ⇒ 2x2 4 y 3

Example: 2 3 27 x is read as 2 times 3

27 x When the radical is reduced whatever comes out of the radical is
multiplied by what is already out front.
3 3 3
♦ 2 27 x ⇒ 2 ⋅ 3 x ⇒ 6 x Done!

Example: Multiply
 5 x 4 x 3 ⋅ 6 x 2 18 x 4 ⇐ Since this is multiplication we can reshuffle all terms.

 5x ⋅ 6 x 2 4 x 3 18 x 4 ⇒ 30 x 3 72 x 7 ⇒ Reduce the radical

 30 x 3 36 ⋅ 2 x 6 x ⇒ 30 x 3 ⋅ 6 x 3 2 x ⇒ 180 x 6 2 x Done!

Divide
3
162 x 7 y 10
♦ ⇐ The indexes are the same “3”. So, write as one big radical first.
3
6x 4 y

162 x 7 y 10
♦ 3 ⇐ Reduce ⇒ 3
27 x 3 y 9 ⇒ Simplify ⇒ 3xy 3
6x 4 y

Adding/Subtracting radicals: The same as like terms. If all the terms match then combine the number out front.

Example: 8 11x + 5 11x − 7 11x ⇒ (8 + 5 − 7) 11x ⇒ 6 11x

Some radicals may need to be reduced first before they are added.

Example:
♦ 5 x 2 3 x + 4 12 x 5 − 2 x 27 x 3 ⇐ Term do not match

♦ 5 x 2 3x + 4 4 ⋅ 3x 4 x − 2 x 9 ⋅ 3x 2 x ⇐ Reduce each radical if possible

♦ 5 x 2 3x + 4 ⋅ 2 x 2 3x − 2 ⋅ 3x ⋅ x 3x ⇐ Multiply terms out front

♦ 5 x 2 3x + 8 x 2 3x − 6 x 2 3 x ⇐ Add like radicals ⇒ 7 x 2 3 x Done!

 Practice Problems
Perform the indicated operation and reduce all radicals.

1) 128x 3 2) 243m 5 n 2

3) 27a 2 4) 2⋅ 8

5) − 7 3 3 y 2 ⋅ 3 18 y 6) 3 25 p ⋅ 3 125 p 3

4x2 48 x 3 y 7
7) 8)
25 y 4 3 xy 3

9) 4
8m 7 ⋅ 4 6m 3 10) 5 7 − 4 7 + 2 7

11) 3 x 7 + 28 x 2 − 63x 2 12) 50 + 98 − 75 + 27

Answer Key

1) 8x 2x 2) 9m 2 n 3m

3) 3a 3 4) 4

5) − 21 y 3
2 6) 5p 3 25 p

2x
7) 8) 4xy 2
5y2

9) 2m 2 4 3m 2 10) 3 7

11) 2x 7 12) 12 2 − 2 3