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Radicals. Laws. Simplification. Reduction of the index.

Rationalization of the denominator. 

Def. Radical. An expression of the form denoting the principal n-th root of a. The positive integer n is the index, or order, of theradical and the number a is the radicand. The index is omitted if n = 2.

The laws for radicals are obtained directly from the laws for exponents by means of the definition

Laws of Radicals. If n is even, assume a, b ≥ 0. 

Simplification of radicals. It is important to reduce a radical to its simplest form through use of the following

operations.

1. Removal of perfect n-th powers from a radicand. Any radical of order n should be simplified by

removing all perfect n-th powers from under the radical sign using the rule .

Examples. 

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2. Reduction of the index of the radical. 

Examples. 

In the first example the index was reduced from 4 to 2 and in the second example it was reduced from 6 to 3. We note that the process involves

converting to exponential notation and then converting back.

3. Rationalization of the denominator. Fractions may be removed from under a radical sign by rationalizing the

denominator. To rationalize the denominator of a radical of order n, multiply the numerator and denominator of the radicand by such a quantity

as will make the denominator a perfect n-th power and then remove the denominator from under the radical sign.

Examples. 

A radical is said to be in simplest form if

1) all perfect n-th powers have been removed from the radical

2) the index of the radical is as small as possible

3) no fractions are present in the radicand i.e. the denominator has been rationalized

Def. Similar radicals. Radicals which, on being reduced to simplest form, have the same index and radicand.

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Addition and subtraction of radicals. Before addition or subtraction of radicals it is important to reduce

them to simplest form. Like radicals can then be added or subtracted in the same way as other like terms.

Example. 

Multiplication of radicals. 

1) To multiply two or more radicals having the same index use .

Examples. 

2) To multiply radicals with different indices use fractional exponents and the laws of exponents.

Example. 

Division of radicals. 

1) To divide two radicals having the same index use

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 and simplify.

Example. 

2) To divide radicals with different indices use fractional exponents and the laws of exponents.

Example. 

Rationalization of the denominator in fractions with binomial

irrational denominators. In one form of fraction, the denominator is a binomial in which one term is a square root of

a rational number or expression and the other term is of the same form or is rational i.e. the denominator has the

form . In such a case, rationalize the fraction by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the

denominator - where the conjugate of and the conjugate of .

Example.