Algebra II : Algebra II

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #1372 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

Simplify: \(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{48x^3y^9z^5}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2xy^3z\sqrt[3]{6z^2}\)

\(\displaystyle 3xy^3z\sqrt[3]{6z}\)

\(\displaystyle z\sqrt[3]{6z^2}\)

\(\displaystyle 3xz\sqrt[3]{6z^2}\)

\(\displaystyle 2xy^3z\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 2xy^3z\sqrt[3]{6z^2}\)

Explanation:

To simplify this expression, I'd recommend factoring it down to its prime factors: \(\displaystyle 2 \cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 3\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot y\cdot z\cdot z\cdot z\cdot z\cdot z\). Then for every trio of the same term, place one out of the radical and cross out the trio. Therefore, outside of the radical, you should have \(\displaystyle 2xy^3z\)and you should have \(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{6z^2}\) leftover. Then, combine those to get: \(\displaystyle 2xy^3z\sqrt[3]{6z^2}\).

Example Question #1 : Radicals

Subtract and simplify:
\(\displaystyle \small \frac{\sqrt3}{\sqrt5}-\frac{\sqrt3}{\sqrt2}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{2\sqrt{15}-5\sqrt6}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \small 3(\sqrt2-\sqrt5)\)

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{\sqrt{6}-\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{10}}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{\sqrt{60}-\sqrt{150}}{10}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{2\sqrt{15}-5\sqrt6}{10}\)

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{\sqrt3}{\sqrt5}-\frac{\sqrt3}{\sqrt2}\)

Find the lease common denominator: \(\displaystyle \small \sqrt{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt5}=\frac{\sqrt6}{\sqrt{10}}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt2}=\frac{\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{10}}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \small \frac{\sqrt6}{\sqrt10}-\frac{\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{10}}=\frac{\sqrt6-\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{10}}\)

A radical cannot be in the denominator:

\(\displaystyle \small \small (\frac{\sqrt6-\sqrt{15}}{\sqrt{10}})(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{\sqrt{10}})=\frac{\sqrt{60}-\sqrt{150}}{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \sqrt{60}=2\sqrt{15}\)

\(\displaystyle \small \sqrt{150}=5\sqrt6\)

\(\displaystyle \small \frac{\sqrt{60}-\sqrt{150}}{10}=\frac{2\sqrt{15}-5\sqrt6}{10}\)

 

 

Example Question #1 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Find the value of \(\displaystyle \sqrt{80} + \sqrt{20}\).

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 10\)

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt5\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt5\)

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt{10}\)

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt5\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt5\)

Explanation:

To solve this equation, we have to factor our radicals.  We do this by finding numbers that multiply to give us the number within the radical. 

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{80} = \sqrt{20}\sqrt{4}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{20} = \sqrt{5}\sqrt{4}\)

Add them together:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt5\sqrt4\sqrt4 + \sqrt5\sqrt4\)

4 is a perfect square, so we can find the root:

\(\displaystyle (2)(2)\sqrt5 + 2\sqrt5\)

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt5 + 2\sqrt5 = 6\sqrt5\)

Since both have the same radical, we can combine them:

\(\displaystyle 4\sqrt5 + 2\sqrt5 = 6\sqrt5\)

Example Question #2 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Simplify the following equation:

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-3\sqrt{4x}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x-7x^{\frac{1}{2}}+5\sqrt[3]{x}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x+13\sqrt{x}-9\sqrt[3]{x}\)

Cannot simplify further

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x-4x^{\frac{1}{6}}\)

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x-13\sqrt{x}+9\sqrt[3]{x}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x-13\sqrt{x}+9\sqrt[3]{x}\)

Explanation:

When simplifying, you should always be on the lookout for like terms. While it might not look like there are like terms in \(\displaystyle f(x)\), there are -- we just have to be able to rewrite it to see.

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-3\sqrt{4x}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x-7x^{\frac{1}{2}}+5\sqrt[3]{x}\)

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-3(4x)^{\frac{1}{2}}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x-7x^{\frac{1}{2}}+5x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

Before we start combining terms, though, let's look a little more closely at this part:

\(\displaystyle -3(4x)^{\frac{1}{2}}\)

We need to "distribute" that exponent to everything in the parentheses, like so:

\(\displaystyle -3\cdot 4^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot x^{\frac{1}{2}}\)

But 4 to the one-half power is just the square root of 4, or 2.

\(\displaystyle -3\cdot 2\cdot x^{\frac{1}{2}}=-6x^{\frac{1}{2}}\)

Okay, now let's see our equation.

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-6x^{\frac{1}{2}}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x-7x^{\frac{1}{2}}+5x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

We need to start combining like terms. Take the terms that include x to the one-half power first.

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}\mathbf{-6x^{\frac{1}{2}}}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x\mathbf{-7x^{\frac{1}{2}}}+5x^{\frac{1}{3}}=x^{2}\mathbf{-13x^{\frac{1}{2}}}+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}-x+5x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

Now take the terms that have x to the one-third power.

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-13x^{\frac{1}{2}}\mathbf{+4x^{\frac{1}{3}}}-x\mathbf{+5x^{\frac{1}{3}}}=x^{2}-13x^{\frac{1}{2}}\mathbf{+9x^{\frac{1}{3}}}-x\)

All that's left is to write them in order of descending exponents, then convert the fractional exponents into radicals (since that's what our answer choices look like).

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x-13x^{\frac{1}{2}}+9x^{\frac{1}{3}}\)

\(\displaystyle f(x)=x^{2}-x-13\sqrt{x}+9\sqrt[3]{x}\)

Example Question #1 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Simplify. 

\(\displaystyle 2\sqrt{16} - 4\sqrt{8}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 8-4\sqrt{8}\)

\(\displaystyle {\sqrt{2}}\)

\(\displaystyle 8-4\sqrt{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 8-8{\sqrt{2}}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 8-8{\sqrt{2}}\)

Explanation:

We can simplify both radicals:

 \(\displaystyle \sqrt{16} =4\)            and              \(\displaystyle \sqrt{8}=\sqrt{4\times 2} = 2\sqrt{2}\)

 

Plug in the simplified radicals into the equation:

\(\displaystyle 2(4) - 4(2\sqrt{2})\)

which leaves us with: 

\(\displaystyle 8- 8\sqrt{2}\)

 

Because these are not like terms, we cannot simplify this further.

Example Question #3 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Simplify. 

\(\displaystyle -8\sqrt{27}-11\sqrt{9}+2\sqrt{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -22\sqrt{3}+33\)

\(\displaystyle -22\sqrt{3}-33\)

\(\displaystyle 22\sqrt{3}+33\)

\(\displaystyle -26\sqrt{3}-33\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -22\sqrt{3}-33\)

Explanation:

Only the first two radicals can be simplified: 

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{27}=\sqrt{9\times 3}=3\sqrt{3}\)      and    \(\displaystyle \sqrt{9}=3\)

Plug in the simplified radicals into the equation: 

\(\displaystyle -8(3\sqrt{3})-11(3)+2\sqrt{3}\)

\(\displaystyle -24\sqrt{3}-33+2\sqrt{3}\)

We can now simplify the equation by combining the like terms: 

\(\displaystyle -22\sqrt{3}-33\)

Example Question #4 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Simplify. 

\(\displaystyle 5\sqrt{28} +\sqrt{7} -7\sqrt{63}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 6\sqrt{7}-7\sqrt{63}\)

\(\displaystyle 10\sqrt{7}-21\sqrt{63}\)

\(\displaystyle -10\sqrt7{}\)

\(\displaystyle -11\sqrt{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -10\sqrt7{}\)

Explanation:

We can simplify the first and third radicals:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{28} =\sqrt{7\times 4} =2\sqrt{7}\)       and   \(\displaystyle \sqrt{63} =\sqrt{9\times 7 } =3\sqrt{7}\)

 

Plug in the simplified radicals into the equation:

\(\displaystyle 5(2\sqrt{7}) + \sqrt{7} -7(3\sqrt{7})\)

\(\displaystyle 10\sqrt{7} + \sqrt{7 } -21\sqrt{7}\)

 

Combine the like terms: 

\(\displaystyle -10\sqrt{7}\)

Example Question #3 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

 \(\displaystyle What\: is \; 3\sqrt{7} + 4\sqrt{7}\, ?\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 7\sqrt14\)

\(\displaystyle 7\sqrt7\)

\(\displaystyle 49\)

\(\displaystyle 12\sqrt7\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7\sqrt7\)

Explanation:

 \(\displaystyle Think \: of\; x = \sqrt7\)

\(\displaystyle 3x + 4x = 7x\)

 \(\displaystyle Therefore, \: 3\sqrt{7} + 4\sqrt{7} = 7\sqrt7\)

 

Example Question #22 : How To Multiply Integers

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[3]{27} + \sqrt{64} =\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 25\)

\(\displaystyle 17\)

\(\displaystyle 11\)

\(\displaystyle 35\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 11\)

Explanation:

The third root of \(\displaystyle 27\) is \(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle \left ( 3\times 3\times 3 =27\right )\)

and when added to the square root of 64, which is 8, you should get 11.  

Example Question #2 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Solve.

\(\displaystyle {}\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{6}\)

\(\displaystyle 5\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{10}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{5}\)

\(\displaystyle {}\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle {}\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}\)

Explanation:

When adding and subtracting radicals, make the sure radicand or inside the square root are the same.

If they are the same, just add the numbers in front of the radical.

Since they are not the same, the answer is just the problem stated. 

\(\displaystyle {}\sqrt{2}+\sqrt{3}\)

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