GRE Math : Simplifying Square Roots

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Common Factors Of Squares

Find the square root of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To simplify, we must try to find factors which are perfect squares. In this case 4 is a factor of 164 and is also a perfect square.

To find the square root of , use the following steps:

Example Question #11 : Arithmetic

Reduce. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the following arithmetic steps to reduce .

To simplify, we must try to find factors which are perfect squares. In this case 64 is a factor of 192 and is also a perfect square.

Note  and  are both factors of , however only  can be reduced.


Example Question #13 : Arithmetic

Reduce.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To reduce this expression, first find factors of , then reduce. 

To simplify, we must try to find factors which are perfect squares. In this case 16 is a factor of 368 and is also a perfect square.

The solution is:

Example Question #601 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

Find the square root of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To reduce this expression, first find factors of , then reduce. 

To simplify, we must try to find factors which are perfect squares. In this case 16 is a factor of 416 and is also a perfect square.

The solution is:

Example Question #1 : How To Simplify Square Roots

Simplify the following: (√(6) + √(3)) / √(3)

Possible Answers:

√(3)

None of the other answers

3√(2)

√(2) + 1

1

Correct answer:

√(2) + 1

Explanation:

Begin by multiplying top and bottom by √(3):

(√(18) + √(9)) / 3

Note the following:

√(9) = 3

√(18) = √(9 * 2) = √(9) * √(2) = 3 * √(2)

Therefore, the numerator is: 3 * √(2) + 3.  Factor out the common 3: 3 * (√(2) + 1)

Rewrite the whole fraction:

(3 * (√(2) + 1)) / 3

Simplfy by dividing cancelling the 3 common to numerator and denominator: √(2) + 1

Example Question #1 : How To Simplify Square Roots

what is 

√0.0000490

Possible Answers:

0.00007

0.07

49

0.007

7

Correct answer:

0.007

Explanation:

easiest way to simplify: turn into scientific notation

√0.0000490= √4.9 X 10-5

finding the square root of an even exponent is easy, and 49 is  a perfect square, so we can write out an improper scientific notation:

√4.9 X 10-5√49 X 10-6

√49 = 7; √10-6 = 10-3 this is equivalent to raising 10-6 to the 1/2 power, in which case all that needs to be done is multiply the two exponents: 7 X 10-3= 0.007

Example Question #5 : Simplifying Square Roots

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In order to take the square root, divide 576 by 2.

Example Question #601 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

Simplify (\frac{16}{81})^{1/4}.

Possible Answers:

\frac{4}{81}

\frac{8}{81}

\frac{2}{81}

\frac{2}{3}

\frac{4}{9}

Correct answer:

\frac{2}{3}

Explanation:

(\frac{16}{81})^{1/4}

\frac{16^{1/4}}{81^{1/4}}

\frac{(2\cdot 2\cdot 2\cdot 2)^{1/4}}{(3\cdot 3\cdot 3\cdot 3)^{1/4}}

\frac{2}{3}

Example Question #5 : How To Simplify Square Roots

Simplfy the following radical .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

You can rewrite the equation as .

This simplifies to .

Example Question #602 : Gre Quantitative Reasoning

Which of the following is equal to  ?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

√75 can be broken down to √25 * √3. Which simplifies to 5√3.

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