First step: Find out the prime numbers that make up the radical, for example, 120 would be 2x2x2x5x3 Second step: If there is 2 of the same number that repeats just put that number in the front of the resulting radical Third: Just multiply the remaining radicals together and put the number in front of it. Now you have 2 30
Example Simplify √ 252 Step 1: Find the prime factorization of the number inside a radical.252 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 Step 2: Determine the index of the radical. In this case, the index is two because it is a square root, which means we need two of a kind. √252 = √2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 7 Step 3: Move each group of numbers or variables from inside the radical to outside the radical. In this case, the pair of 2’s and 3’s moved outside the radical.2 x 3 √7 Step 4: Simplify the expressions both inside and outside the radical by multiplying.6 √7
Hope that was clear!
To simplify radicals, first factor the number inside the radical into its prime factors. Then, pair like factors to simplify and take them out of the radical. This way, you transform expressions like 72 into 6 2 .
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