SIMPLIFY RADICAL EXPRESSIONS

In this section, you will learn how to simplify radical expressions. 

Like radicals :

The radicals which are having same number inside the root and same index is called like radicals.

Unlike radicals :

Unlike radicals don't have same number inside the radical sign or index may not be same.

We can add and subtract like radicals only. 

Simplifying Radical Expressions - Steps

Step 1 :

Decompose the number inside the radical sign into prime factors.  

Step 2 :

Take one number out of the radical for every two same numbers multiplied inside the radical sign.

Step 3 :

Simplify. 

Examples :

Simplifying Radical Expressions - Examples

Example 1 :

Simplify :

√20 - √225 + √80

Solution :

Decompose 20, 225 and 80 into prime factors using synthetic division. 

√20  =  √2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 5  =  2√5

√225  =  √5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3  =  5 ⋅ 3  =  15

√225  =  √2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 5  =  (2 ⋅ 2)√5  =  4√5

Then, we have

√20 - √225 + √80  =  2√5 - 15 + 4√5

√20 - √225 + √80  =  6√5 - 15

√20 - √225 + √80  =  6√5 - 15

√20 - √225 + √80  =  3(2√5 - 5)

Example 2 :

Simplify :

√27 + √75 + √108 - √48

Solution :

Decompose 27, 75, 48 and 108 into prime factors using synthetic division. 

√27  =   √(3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3)  =  3√3

√75  =   √(5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 3)  =  5√3

√108  =   √(3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2)  =  3 ⋅ 2 ⋅ √3  =  6√3

√48  =  √(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3)  =  2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ √3  =  4√3

Then, we have

√27 + √75 + √108 - √48  =   3√3 + 5√3 + 6√3 - 4√3

√27 + √75 + √108 - √48  =   10√3

Example 3 :

Simplify the following radical expression

5√28 - √28 + 8√28

Solution :

5√28 - √28 + 8 √28

Because all the terms in the above radical expression are like terms, we can simplify as given below. 

5√28 - √28 + 8√28  =  12√28

5√28 - √28 + 8√28  =  12√(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 7)

5√28 - √28 + 8√28  =  12 ⋅ 2√7

5√28 - √28 + 8√28  =  24√7

Example 4 :

Simplify the following radical expression

9√11 - 6√11 

Solution :

9√11 - 6√11 

Because the terms in the above radical expression are like terms, we can simplify as given below. 

9√11 - 6√11  =  3√11

Example 5 :

Simplify the following radical expression

7√8 - 6√12 - 5√32

Solution :

7√8 - 6√12 - 5√32

Decompose 8, 12 and 32 into prime factors.

7√8  =  7√(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2)  =  7 ⋅ 2√2  =  14√2

6√12  =  6√(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3)  =  6 ⋅ 2√3  =  12√3

5√32  =  √(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2)  =  5 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ √2  =  20√2

Then, we have

7√8 - 6√12 + 5√32  =  14√2 - 12√3 - 20√2

7√8 - 6√12 + 5√32  =  14√2 - 12√3 - 20√2

7√8 - 6√12 + 5√32  =  -6√2 - 12√3

7√8 - 6√12 + 5√32  =  -6(√2 + 2√3)

Example 6 :

Simplify the following radical expression

2√99 + 2√27 - 4√176 - 3√12

Solution :

Decompose 99, 27, 176 and 12 into prime factors.

2√99  =  2√(3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 11)  =  2 ⋅ 3√11  =  6√11

2√27  =  2√(3 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 3)  =  2 ⋅ 3√3  =  6√3

4√176  =  √(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 11)  =  4 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2√11  =  16√11

3√12  =  3√(2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 3)  =  3 ⋅ 2√3  =  6√3

Then, we have

2√99 + 2√27 - 4√176 - 3√12  =  6√11 + 6√3 - 16√11 - 6√3

2√99 + 2√27 - 4√176 - 3√12  =  -10√11

After having gone through the stuff given above, we hope that the students would have understood how to simplify radical expressions. 

Apart from the stuff given in this section, if you need any other stuff in math, please use our google custom search here. 

You can also visit the following web pages on different stuff in math. 

WORD PROBLEMS

HCF and LCM  word problems

Word problems on simple equations 

Word problems on linear equations 

Word problems on quadratic equations

Algebra word problems

Word problems on trains

Area and perimeter word problems

Word problems on direct variation and inverse variation 

Word problems on unit price

Word problems on unit rate 

Word problems on comparing rates

Converting customary units word problems 

Converting metric units word problems

Word problems on simple interest

Word problems on compound interest

Word problems on types of angles 

Complementary and supplementary angles word problems

Double facts word problems

Trigonometry word problems

Percentage word problems 

Profit and loss word problems 

Markup and markdown word problems 

Decimal word problems

Word problems on fractions

Word problems on mixed fractrions

One step equation word problems

Linear inequalities word problems

Ratio and proportion word problems

Time and work word problems

Word problems on sets and venn diagrams

Word problems on ages

Pythagorean theorem word problems

Percent of a number word problems

Word problems on constant speed

Word problems on average speed 

Word problems on sum of the angles of a triangle is 180 degree

OTHER TOPICS 

Profit and loss shortcuts

Percentage shortcuts

Times table shortcuts

Time, speed and distance shortcuts

Ratio and proportion shortcuts

Domain and range of rational functions

Domain and range of rational functions with holes

Graphing rational functions

Graphing rational functions with holes

Converting repeating decimals in to fractions

Decimal representation of rational numbers

Finding square root using long division

L.C.M method to solve time and work problems

Translating the word problems in to algebraic expressions

Remainder when 2 power 256 is divided by 17

Remainder when 17 power 23 is divided by 16

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 6

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 7

Sum of all three digit numbers divisible by 8

Sum of all three digit numbers formed using 1, 3, 4

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed with non zero digits

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed using 0, 1, 2, 3

Sum of all three four digit numbers formed using 1, 2, 5, 6