Math
Operations with radicals.
Definition
The rules for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing expressions containing square roots or other radicals. Like terms (same radicand and index) can be combined, and multiplication/division follow product and quotient rules.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 3√2 + 5√2 = 8√2 (adding like radicals)
- 2 √3 × √12 = √36 = 6 (multiplying radicals)
- 3 Rationalizing a denominator: 1/√2 = √2/2
Key Fact
√a × √b = √(ab); √a / √b = √(a/b); can only add/subtract radicals with the same radicand