SIMPLIFYING Radicals
To be able to do this you need to know the basics of square roots and perfect squares.
Step one
Find the largest perfect square that can be multiplied by another number to get the number you have.
For example: √52
The largest square root that will go into 52 is 4
For example: √52
The largest square root that will go into 52 is 4
Step two
Now that you know 4 is the largest square root you have to write it out.
√52 = √4•13
The square root (4 in this case) should always be in front of the number you're multiplying it by (the 13 in this case).
√52 = √4•13
The square root (4 in this case) should always be in front of the number you're multiplying it by (the 13 in this case).
Step three
Give each number in the product its own radical sign ( √ ).
It will now look like:
√52 = √4 • √13
It will now look like:
√52 = √4 • √13
Step FOur
now simplify the square root.It will now look like:
√52 = 2 • √13 or 2 √13
√52 = 2 • √13 or 2 √13
Step Five (if equation isn't simplified enough)
If the part being square rooted is not simplified go back to the top and re-do the steps
that would look something like this:
first perfect sq • second perfect sq √now completely simplified number
that would look something like this:
first perfect sq • second perfect sq √now completely simplified number
you are now done
Still need help? Here's a website that can help you: http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/ALGEBRA/AO1/Lsimplify.htm.