Operations with radicals
You already know how to convert a radical into a fractional power and how to take factors out of it. Now it is time to combine them: to add them, multiply them and, above all, remove them from the denominator of a fraction so that the result is in the form expected in any exam or report.
Like radicals: adding and subtracting
Simplify the following mathematical expression by extracting factors from the radicals and grouping like terms: $5\sqrt{12} - \sqrt{27} + 2\sqrt{75}$
Simplify the following mathematical expression by extracting factors from the radicals and grouping like terms:
$5\sqrt{12} - \sqrt{27} + 2\sqrt{75}$
A technology company is designing a new smartphone model. The screen is rectangular and its exact dimensions are given by the following radicals: the base measures…
A technology company is designing a new smartphone model. The screen is rectangular and its exact dimensions are given by the following radicals: the base measures $\sqrt{12}$ cm and the height measures $\sqrt{3}$ cm. Calculate the area of the screen, expressing the result in simplified form.
Multiplying and dividing radicals
Extract all possible factors from the following radicals to obtain the simplest expression: a) $\sqrt{72x^4y^3}$ b) $\sqrt[3]{128a^5}$
Extract all possible factors from the following radicals to obtain the simplest expression:
- a) $\sqrt{72x^4y^3}$
- b) $\sqrt[3]{128a^5}$
Extract all possible factors from the following radicals and simplify the resulting expression to obtain a single term: $3\sqrt{80} - 2\sqrt{45} + \sqrt{20}$
Extract all possible factors from the following radicals and simplify the resulting expression to obtain a single term:
$3\sqrt{80} - 2\sqrt{45} + \sqrt{20}$
Rationalising the denominator: monomial and binomial
Rationalise the following fractions so that no radical remains in the denominator. Remember to simplify the final result if possible: a) $\frac{10}{\sqrt{2}}$ b)…
Rationalise the following fractions so that no radical remains in the denominator. Remember to simplify the final result if possible:
- a) $\frac{10}{\sqrt{2}}$
- b) $\frac{3}{\sqrt[3]{5}}$
In the design of a new smartphone chip, one of the connections has a length given by the product of two radical components. Calculate the exact value of this length by…
In the design of a new smartphone chip, one of the connections has a length given by the product of two radical components. Calculate the exact value of this length by simplifying the following product and expressing it under a single radical:
$\sqrt[3]{a^2} \cdot \sqrt[4]{a^3}$
Calculate the area of a square public square whose side measures $(2 + \sqrt{5})$ metres. Express the result in exact form, simplifying any radicals that appear when…
Calculate the area of a square public square whose side measures $(2 + \sqrt{5})$ metres. Express the result in exact form, simplifying any radicals that appear when expanding the binomial.
Rationalising a binomial denominator (conjugate)
Rationalise the following expressions to eliminate the radicals from the denominator and simplify the final result: a) $\dfrac{6}{\sqrt[3]{9}}$ b) $\dfrac{10}{\sqrt{5}}$
Rationalise the following expressions to eliminate the radicals from the denominator and simplify the final result:
- a) $\dfrac{6}{\sqrt[3]{9}}$
- b) $\dfrac{10}{\sqrt{5}}$
Simplify the following combined expression as much as possible, extracting factors from the radicals and rationalising any terms necessary to group the numerical part:…
Simplify the following combined expression as much as possible, extracting factors from the radicals and rationalising any terms necessary to group the numerical part:
$$3\sqrt{175} - \frac{5}{\sqrt{7}} + \sqrt[4]{441} - 2\sqrt{112}$$Rationalise and simplify the following fraction. You must work out the numerator after rationalising to obtain the simplest possible expression: $$\frac{2\sqrt{6} -…
Rationalise and simplify the following fraction. You must work out the numerator after rationalising to obtain the simplest possible expression:
$$\frac{2\sqrt{6} - 3\sqrt{2}}{2\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{2}}$$Putting it all together: expressions with several radicals
Reduce to a single radical and simplify the resulting expression, assuming that the variables $x$ and $y$ represent positive real values: $$\frac{\sqrt[3]{x^2 \cdot y}…
Reduce to a single radical and simplify the resulting expression, assuming that the variables $x$ and $y$ represent positive real values:
$$\frac{\sqrt[3]{x^2 \cdot y} \cdot \sqrt{x \cdot y^3}}{\sqrt[6]{x^5 \cdot y^4}}$$An architect is designing a triangular skylight for a new shopping centre. The design requires the base of the skylight to be an equilateral triangle whose height is…
An architect is designing a triangular skylight for a new shopping centre. The design requires the base of the skylight to be an equilateral triangle whose height is exactly $H = \sqrt{18} + \sqrt{6}$ metres. Calculate the exact value of the area of the skylight, expressing the result as a simplified radical in $m^2$.