Simplifying Radical Expressions

Quotient Property of Square Roots A fraction containing radicals is in simplest

form if no radicals are left in the denominator. The Quotient Property of Square Roots
and rationalizing the denominator can be used to simplify radical expressions that
involve division. When you rationalize the denominator, you multiply the numerator and
denominator by a radical expression that gives a rational number in the denominator.

√a
Quotient Property of Square Roots For any numbers a and b, where a ≥ 0 and b > 0, √"−ba = −"
"
√b
.

Example Simplify √""

56
−
45
.

√""
56
−
45
= √"""
4 $ 14
−
9$5
2 $ √""
14
=− Simplify the numerator and denominator.
""
3 $ √15
14 √5
2 √"" " √"
5
=−$− Multiply by − to rationalize the denominator.
3 √5" "
√5 √"
5

2 √""
70
=− Product Property of Square Roots
15

Exercises
Simplify each expression.

Copyright © Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

√9" √8"
1. − 2. −
"
√18 "
√24

""
√100 "
√75
3. − 4. −
""
√121 "
√3

"
8 √2
5. −
"
2 √8
6. √−"52 $ √−"56
7. √−"43 $ √−"25 8. √−"75 $ √−"52
√−
""
3a
√y"
x6
2
9. 10. −
10b 6 4

√−
""
100a
√−
"""
75b c
4 3 6
11. 12.
144b 8
a 2

"
√4 "
√8
13. − 14. −
"
3 - √5 "
2 + √3

"
√5 "
√8
15. − 16. −
"
5 + √5 2 √7 "
" + 4 √10

Chapter 10 138 Glencoe Algebra 1

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