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
 Largest 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
 Largest 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 3 + 20 3 =
29 3
 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 2 8− 7 + 6 6 3 =
 *
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 = 8 100 = 8 *10 = 80
( 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.
 X 2
=X

Y 6 = Y3

4 6 2
P X Y = P2X3Y

4 2
4X Y = 2X2Y

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

=
X X

5
Y = Y 4
Y

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

= XY PXY

7 2
12 X Y = Y 5

8 9
25 C D = Y 5