Simplifying Radicals

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
 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 = 25 2

125 = 25 * 5 = 5 5

450 = 225 * 2 = 15 2
 +
To combine radicals: combine
the coefficients of like radicals
 Simplify each expression

6 7 5 7 3 7  8 7

5 6 3 7 4 7 2 6  3 6 7 7
Simplify each expression: Simplify each radical first 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
Simplify each expression: Simplify each radical first and
then combine.

3 27  5 48  3 9 * 3  5 16 * 3 
3*3 3  5* 4 3 
9 2  20 2 
29 2
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

18 = =
LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM

288 = =

75 = =

24 = =

72 = =
 Simplify each expression

6 5 5 6 3 6 

3 24  7 54 

2 8  7 32 
 Simplify each expression

6 5  5 20 

18  7 32 

2 28  7  6 63 
 *
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  20 100  20 *10  200

 5
2
 5* 5  25  5

 7 2
 7* 7  49  7

 8 2
 8* 8  64  8

 x 2
 x* x  x 
2 x
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 10
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 6
fraction.
 2
X =X

Y 6 = Y3

4 6 2
P X Y = P2X3Y

4X Y 4 2
= 2X2Y

8 10 = 5C4D10
25C D
X 3 = X 2
*X

=
X X

5
Y = Y 4
Y

= 2
Y Y
 3 3 = 2 2
PX Y X Y * PXY

= XY PXY

7 2
12 X Y = Y 5

8 9
25C D = Y 5