Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radical Simplification
Radical simplification involves reducing a radical expression to its simplest form. This includes factoring out perfect squares from under the radical sign. For example, √72 can be simplified to √(36*2) = 6√2, making calculations easier when combining like terms.
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Like Terms
Like terms are terms that have the same variable raised to the same power, or in the case of radicals, the same radicand. In the expression 4√72 - 2√48, after simplification, we need to identify if the resulting terms can be combined. Only terms with the same radical part can be added or subtracted.
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Adding & Subtracting Like Radicals
Combining Radicals
Combining radicals involves adding or subtracting radical expressions that are like terms. Once simplified, if two radical terms share the same radicand, they can be combined by adding or subtracting their coefficients. For instance, after simplifying 4√72 and 2√48, if they yield like terms, they can be combined to form a single radical expression.
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