INTRODUCTION TO RADICALS

Radicals are the opposite of exponents. While an exponent asks you to multiply a number by
itself, radicals asks what number multiplied by itself will equal the number shown under the
radical sign ( )

The radical sign ( ) indicates a radical operation, often referred to as to finding a root. The
front of the radical sign ( 3 ) this number is called the index and tells us which root you need to
find. For example 3 27 asks us what number multiplied by itself three times give an answer of
27.

Examples

(1) Evaluate (i) 16 (ii) 3

8 (iii) 5
243 (iv) 3
64

Ans (i) 16 = 4 ( i.e. 4 by 4 = 16) (ii) 3

8 = 2 ( i,e. 2 x 2 x 2 =8)

5
(iii) 243 = 3 (i.e. 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 =243)

(iv) 3
64 = – 4 (i.e. – 4 x – 4 x – 4 = –64)

EXERCISE 1

3 3
(1) Evaluate (i) 36 (ii) 400 (iii) 27 (iv) 125

(v) 3
27 (vi) 4
16 (vii) 5
32 (viii) 5
32 (ix) 0.09
Simplifying radicals

To simplify a radical break down the number under the radicals into products of its prime
factors. Then group the prime factors into the same number as the index, then pull out the
repeating factors from under the radical sign and place them infront of the radical sign.

Examples

3
Simplify (i) 20 (ii) 81 (iii) 500

3 3 3
Ans (i) 20 = 2 x 2 x 5 =2 5 (ii) 81 = 3 x 3 x 3 x 3= 3 3

(iii) 500 = 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 x 5 = 10 5

EXERCISE 2

Simplify

(1) (i) 27 (ii) 72 (iii) 180 (iv) 200 (v) 288

1
(vi)
3
16 (vii)
3
200 (viii)
3
16 (ix) 5 125 (x) 175
5

Addition and subtraction of radicals

You can only add or subtract radicals if the indexes as well as the number under the radical

signs ( ) are the same.

To add radicals, add the number in front of the radical signs, and then place the result in front of
the radical sign. Keep the number under the radical sign the same.

Similarly to subtract radicals, subtract the number in front of the radical signs, and then place
the result in front of the radical sign. Keep the number under the radical sign the same.
Examples

(1) Add or subtract the following radical expressions.

(i) 337 +537 (ii) 545 – 4

5 (iii) 75 + 12 – 27

Ans (i) 337 +537 = 837 (ii) 545 – 4

5 =445

(iii) 75 + 12 – 27 = 3x5x5 + 2x2x3 – 3x3x3 = 5 3 + 2 3 – 3 3 = 4 3

Multiplying radicals

In order to multiply radicals they must have the same index. You then first multiply the
coefficients then multiply the terms under the radical sign. Your answer will have the original
radical sign.

Examples

Simplify (i) 2 x 7 (ii) 33 4 x 4 3 6

Ans (i) 2 x 7 = 14 (ii) 3 3 4 x 4 3 6 = 12 3 24 = 12 3 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 24 3 3

Dividing radicals

In order to divide radicals they must have the same insdex. You then divide the coefficients and
the radicands separately.

Example

Simplify (i) 6 14  3 7 (ii) 25 3 18  10 3 6

25 3 3 5 3 3
Ans 6 14  3 7 = 2 2 (ii) 25 3 18  10 3 6 = =
10 2
Rationalizing the denominator

When your answer contains a radical in the denominator, you should remove the radical from
the denominator by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the radical in the
denominator.

Example

Simplify (i) 3  5 (ii) 24 8  6 3

3 3 5 15
Ans (i) 3  5  = x =
5 5 5 5

4 8 4 8 3 4 24 8 6
(ii) 24 8  6 3  = x =
3 3 3 3 3

EXERCISE 3

Simplify (i) 3 +2 3 3 3 (ii) 5 7 – 3 7 (iii) 18 + 32 – 2

2 5 
2
(iv) 2 3 x 5 2 (v) 4 5 x 2 3 (vi) 5 5 x 10 (vii)

(viii) 4 3 x 18 (ix) 53 2 x 23 9 (x) 12 15 ÷ 3 5 (xi) 5 ÷ 3

6 6 5 32
(xii) 12 ÷ 8 (xiii) 162 ÷ 15 (xiv) (xv)
4 27 15 96
ANSWERS

EXERCISE 1

(1) (i) 6 (ii) 20 (iii) 3 (iv) 5 (v) –3 (vi) 2

(vii) 2 (viii) –2 (ix) 0.3

EXERCISE 2

(1) (i) 3 3 (ii) 6 2 (iii) 6 5 (iv) 10 2 (v) 12 2

(viii) 2 2
3 3
(vi) 2 2 (vii) 2 25 (ix) 25 5 (x) 7

EXERCISE 3

(i) 6 3 (ii) 2 7 (iii) 6 2 (iv) 10 6 (v) 8 15

(vi) 25 2 (vii) 20 (viii) 12 6 (ix) 10 3 18 (x) 4 3

15 6 3 30 2 3
(xi) (xii) (xiii) (xiv) (xv)
3 2 5 4 9