SIMPLIFYING RADICALS

(ADD, SUBTRACT, MULTIPLY,

AND DIVIDE RADICAL
EXPRESSIONS
 If b 2 = a, then b is a square root of a.

Meaning Positive Negative The positive and

Square Root Square Root negative square
roots

 
Symbol

Example 9 3  9  3  9  3
 Radical Expressions
Finding a root of a number is the inverse operation of raising
a number to a power.

radical sign
index
n radicand
a

This symbol is the radical or the radical sign

 The expression under the radical sign is the

radicand.
 The index defines the root to be taken.
• SQUARE ROOT: ONE OF TWO EQUAL FACTORS OF A GIVEN NUMBER. THE
RADICAND IS LIKE THE “AREA” OF A SQUARE AND THE SIMPLIFIED ANSWER
IS THE LENGTH OF THE SIDE OF THE SQUARES. 9 3
• PRINCIPAL SQUARE ROOT: THE POSITIVE SQUARE ROOT OF A NUMBER;
THE PRINCIPAL SQUARE ROOT OF 9 IS 3.  9  3

• NEGATIVE SQUARE ROOT: THE NEGATIVE SQUARE ROOT OF 9 IS –3 AND

IS SHOWN LIKE

• RADICAL: THE SYMBOL WHICH IS READ “THE SQUARE ROOT OF A” IS

CALLED A RADICAL.

• RADICAND: THE NUMBER OR EXPRESSION INSIDE A RADICAL SYMBOL 3

--- 3 IS THE RADICAND.

• PERFECT SQUARE: A NUMBER THAT IS THE SQUARE OF AN INTEGER. 1, 4,

9, 16, 25, 36, ETC… ARE PERFECT SQUARES.
 Square Roots

A square root of any positive number has two roots –

one is positive and the other is negative.
If a is a positive number, then
a is the positive (principal) square
root of a and
 a is the negative square root of a.
Examples:
100  10  36  6 1 1
25 5
 0.81   0.9  9  non-real #
49 7
 What does the following symbol represent?

The symbol represents the positive or

principal root of a number.

What is the radicand of the expression 4 5xy ?

5xy
 What does the following symbol represent?


The symbol represents the negative root of
a number.

What is the index of the expression 3

5x 2 y 5 ?
3
What numbers are perfect squares?

1•1=1
2•2=4
3•3=9
4 • 4 = 16
5 • 5 = 25
6 • 6 = 36
49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, ...
 PERFECT SQUARES
1 64 225
4 81 256
9 100 289
16 121 324
25 144 400
36 169
49 196 625
4 =2

16 =4

25 =5

100 = 10

144 = 12
SIMPLIFYING RADICALS
 SIMPLIFYING RADICAL
EXPRESSIONS

Product Property for Radicals

ab  a  b

36  4  9
36  4  9 100  4  25
6  23 10  2  5
SIMPLIFYING RADICAL EXPRESSIONS
Product Property for Radicals
50  25  2 5 2
• A RADICAL HAS BEEN SIMPLIFIED WHEN ITS RADICAND CONTAINS NO
PERFECT SQUARE FACTORS.
• TEST TO SEE IF IT CAN BE DIVIDED BY 4, THEN 9, THEN 25, THEN 49,
ETC.
• SOMETIMES FACTORING THE RADICAND USING THE “TREE” IS
HELPFUL.

x x
14 7
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

8 = 4*2 = 2 2
LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM

= 4*5 = 2 5
20

32 = 16 * 2 = 4 2

75 = 25 * 3 = 5 3

40 = 4 *10 = 2 10
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor
48 = 16 * 3 = 4 3
LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM

80 = 16 * 5 = 4 5

50 = 25 * 2 = 5 2

125 = 25 * 5 = 5 5

450 = 225 * 2 = 15 2
 SIMPLIFY: Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

18 = =
= =
LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM

24
= =

72 = =
= =

288 = =
 STEPS TO SIMPLIFY RADICALS:

1. TRY TO DIVIDE THE RADICAND INTO A PERFECT

SQUARE FOR NUMBERS
2. IF THERE IS AN EXPONENT MAKE IT EVEN BY USING
RULES OF EXPONENTS
3. SEPARATE THE FACTORS TO ITS OWN SQUARE ROOT
4. SIMPLIFY
 12
SIMPLIFY: x
x  6 2

6
x
Square root of a variable to an
even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
 88
SIMPLIFY: y
44
y

Square root of a variable to an

even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
 x  x x 13 12 1
SIMPLIFY:

x  x
12

6
x x
 7
SIMPLIFY: 50 y

25 y  2 y
6

3
5y 2y
 SIMPLIFY 72

1. 2 18
.

3 8
2..

6 2
3.
36 2
.

4..
 36
SIMPLIFY 9x

1. 3X6
2. 3X18
3. 9X 6

4. 9X18
SIMPLIFY THE FOLLOWING
RADICAL EXPRESSION

= =

= =
=
=

= =
SIMPLIFY THE FOLLOWING
RADICAL EXPRESSION

= =

= =
=
=

= =
+
SIMPLIFY EACH EXPRESSION

6 7 5 7 3 7  8 7

5 6 3 7 4 7 2 6  3 6 7 7
 TO SIMPLIFY RADICAL EXPRESSION:

SIMPLIFY EACH RADICAL FIRST BY FINDING

THE PERFECT SQUARE FACTOR AND THEN
COMBINE.

2 50  3 32 
2 25 * 2  3 16 * 2 
2 *5 2  3* 4 2 
10 2  12 2 
2 2
 TO SIMPLIFY RADICAL EXPRESSION:
SIMPLIFY EACH RADICAL FIRST BY FINDING THE
PERFECT SQUARE FACTOR AND THEN COMBINE.

3 27  5 48 
3 9 * 3  5 16 * 3 
3*3 3  5* 4 3 
9 3  20 3 
29 3
 PRACTICE
TO SIMPLIFY RADICAL EXPRESSION:

SIMPLIFY EACH RADICAL FIRST BY FINDING THE

PERFECT SQUARE FACTOR AND THEN COMBINE
LIKE TERMS

6 5 5 6 3 6 

3 24  7 54 

2 8  7 32 
 PRACTICE
TO SIMPLIFY RADICAL EXPRESSION:

SIMPLIFY EACH RADICAL FIRST BY FINDING THE

PERFECT SQUARE FACTOR AND THEN COMBINE
LIKE TERMS

6 5  5 20  18  7 32 

2 28  7  6 63 
 Add or Subtract the
following radicals
=

NOTE: You can only add or subtract like =

terms. (same index and radicand).
 Add or Subtract the
following radicals
=

=
=
=
NOTE: You can only add or subtract like
terms. (same index and radicand).
 *
To multiply radicals: multiply the
coefficients and then multiply
the radicands and then simplify
the remaining radicals.
 Multiply and then simplify

5 * 35  175  25 * 7  5 7

2 8 * 3 7  6 56  6 4 *14 
6 * 2 14  12 14

2 5 * 4 20  8 100  8 *10  80
 Multiply or Divide the following
Radicals then simplify if possible
=
=
=
=
=

=
 Multiply or Divide the following
Radicals then simplify if possible
=
=
=
=

=
To divide radicals:
divide the
coefficients, divide
the radicands if
possible, and
rationalize the
denominator so that
no radical remains in
the denominator
56
 8 4*2  2 2
7
 This cannot be
divided which leaves 6 6 7
the radical in the  * 
denominator. We do 7 7 7
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
42 42
we need to 
rationalize by 49 7
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the 42 cannot be
denominator. simplified, so we are
finished.
 This can be divided 5 1 2
which leaves the  * 
radical in the 10 2 2
denominator. We do
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
we need to 2
rationalize by 2
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the
denominator.
 This cannot be 3 3 3
divided which leaves  * 
the radical in the 12 12 3
denominator. We do
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
3 3
we need to 
rationalize by 36
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the
3 3 3
denominator.
Reduce 
the
6 2
fraction.
 X 2
=X

Y 6 = Y3

4 6 2
P X Y = P 2X3Y

4 2
4X Y = 2X2Y
8 10 = 5C4D5
25C D
X 3 = X 2
*X

=
X X

5
Y = Y 4
Y

= Y 2
Y