College Algebra : Radicals

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for College Algebra

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Example Questions

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Example Question #1 : Radicals

Subtract and simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Find the lease common denominator: 

A radical cannot be in the denominator:

 

 

Example Question #1 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Find the value of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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. 

Add them together:

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

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

Example Question #3 : Radicals

Simplify the following equation:

Possible Answers:

Cannot simplify further

Correct answer:

Explanation:

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

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

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

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

Okay, now let's see our equation.

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

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

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).

Example Question #4 : Radicals

Solve. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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

Since they are the same, just add the numbers in front of the radical:  which is 

Therefore, our final answer is the sum of the integers and the radical:

Example Question #5 : Radicals

Solve.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

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.

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

Since they are the same, just add and subtract the numbers in front:  which is 

Therefore, the final answer will be this sum and the radical added to the end:

Example Question #22 : Adding And Subtracting Radicals

Simplify, if possible:  

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The radicals given are not in like-terms.  To simplify, take the common factors for each of the radicals and separate the radicals.  A radical times itself will eliminate the square root sign.

Now that each radical is in its like term, we can now combine like-terms.

Example Question #1 : Multiplying And Dividing Radicals

Multiply and express the answer in the simplest form:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Example Question #1 : Multiplying And Dividing Radicals

Simplify. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

We can solve this by simplifying the radicals first: 

Plugging this into the equation gives us: 

Example Question #1 : Multiplying And Dividing Radicals

What is the product of  and ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

First, simplify  to .

Then set up the multiplication problem:

 .

Multiply the terms outside of the radical, then the terms under the radical:

  then simplfy:  

The radical is still not in its simplest form and must be reduced further: 

. This is the radical in its simplest form. 

Example Question #1 : Radicals

Simplify the following:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve this, you must remember the rules for simplifying roots. In order to pull something out from the inside, you msut have the amount indicated in the index. Thus, in this case, to pull one x out, you need 3 inside. Thus,

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