Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Radicals
Radicals are expressions that involve roots, such as square roots, cube roots, etc. In this context, the square root symbol (√) indicates the principal square root of a number. Understanding how to manipulate radicals is essential for simplifying expressions, especially when combining like terms.
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Like Radicals
Like radicals are terms that have the same radicand (the number under the root) and the same index. For example, √5 and √20 are not like radicals, but √20 can be simplified to 2√5, making it possible to combine it with √5. Recognizing and simplifying like radicals is crucial for performing addition or subtraction of radical expressions.
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Adding & Subtracting Like Radicals
Simplification of Radicals
Simplification of radicals involves rewriting a radical expression in its simplest form. This often includes factoring the radicand into perfect squares and extracting them from under the radical sign. For instance, √20 can be simplified to 2√5, which helps in combining it with other radicals, facilitating easier calculations.
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