Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Rationalizing the Denominator
Rationalizing the denominator involves eliminating any irrational numbers from the denominator of a fraction. This is typically done by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by a suitable expression that will result in a rational number in the denominator. For example, if the denominator is of the form 'a + b√c', multiplying by 'a - b√c' can help achieve this.
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Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying radicals means rewriting a radical expression in its simplest form. This involves factoring out perfect squares (or cubes, etc.) from under the radical sign. For instance, √12 can be simplified to 2√3, as 12 = 4 × 3, and √4 is a perfect square.
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Combining Like Terms
Combining like terms is a fundamental algebraic process where terms with the same variable and exponent are added or subtracted. In the context of simplifying expressions, this helps in reducing the expression to its simplest form by merging coefficients of similar terms. For example, in the expression 3x + 5x, the like terms can be combined to yield 8x.
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