

Let’s investigate the proper notation for roots. Now, by subbing in the lengths she knows, Bonny can calculate the unknown length by finding the square root of 20 x².

The hypotenuse is always located opposite the right angle. Remember, the Pythagorean Theorem is: a² + b² = c² and 'c' is the hypotenuse, which is the longest side. Notice the right angle?īecause the points are in the shape of a right triangle, she used the Pythagorean Theorem to solve for the unknown length. Let’s look at her calculations: Bonny travelled a distance equal to 4x, and Jack travelled a distance equal to 2x. Simplifying radical expressionsīeing a math whiz, the lovelorn captain used simplified radical expressions to figure out the distance. Only two hours later and with a heavy heart, she wondered how far she was from her paramour’s sloop. Bonny had the wind at her back, so she traveled twice as fast as Jack. Captain Bonny hoisted her sails due east while Calico Jack headed south. To keep their dalliance a secret, they pretended to be mortal enemies, and to prove this, they constantly pretended to try to overpower the other.

Two rival pirate captains were madly in love, and as you can imagine, this was quite a complicated situation. Long, long ago, somewhere in the deep blue of the Caribbean Sea. In a similar fashion, the quotient property can be used to simplify a radical expression by first writing the expression as the root of the numerator divided by the root of the denominator, then simplifying the root in the numerator and the root in the denominator, and finally simplifying the resulting radical.Įxpressions and Equations Work with radicals and integer exponents. The property states that the root of a rational number is equal to the root of the numerator divided by the root of the denominator. Finally, simplify the radical expression.Īnother useful property for simplifying radical expressions is the quotient property of square roots it is used to divide radical expressions. Then use the product property of square roots to write the expression as a product. To use the product property of square roots to simplify a radical expression, first write the radicand as the product of a perfect square and a factor that does not contain a perfect square. The property states that the root of the product of two terms is equal to the product of the root of each term. The procedure used to remove a radical from a denominator is called rationalizing the denominator.Ī knowledge of perfect squares and the product property of square roots can be very helpful in simplifying radical expressions. There is no radical in the denominator of a fraction. There is no fraction under the radical sign.ģ. The radicand contains no factor greater than 1 that is a perfect square.Ģ. Multiply by the \(\sqrt-1\) Exercises for Simplifying Radical Expressions Involving Fractions Simplify radical expressions.For a radical expression to be in the simplest form, three conditions must be met:ġ. Simplifying Radical Expressions Involving Fractions – Example 1: If there is a radical and another integer in the denominator, multiply both numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.If there is a radical in the denominator, multiply the numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator.To simplify radical expressions involving fractions: Step by Step Guide to Simplifying Radical Expressions Involving Fraction To rationalize the denominator, you need to get rid of all radicals that are in the denominator. + Ratio, Proportion and Percentages PuzzlesĪ radical contains an expression that is not a perfect root it is called an irrational number.
