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Elementary algebra
Roots and radicals
Higher roots
Simplifying odd and even roots
For any integer
n
≥
2 ,
when
n
is odd
a
n
n
=
a
when
n
is even
a
n
n
=
|
a
|
We must use the absolute value signs when we take an even root of an expression with a variable in the radical.
Simplify:
ⓐ
x
2
ⓑ
n
3
3
ⓒ
p
4
4
ⓓ
y
5
5 .
Solution
We use the absolute value to be sure to get the positive root.
ⓐ
x
2
Since
(
x
)
2
=
x
2
and we want the positive root.
|
x
|
ⓑ
n
3
3
Since
(
n
)
3
=
n
3
.
It is an odd root so there is
no need for an absolute value sign.
n
ⓒ
p
4
4
Since
(
p
)
4
=
p
4
and we want the positive root.
|
p
|
ⓓ
y
5
5
Since
(
y
)
5
=
y
5
.
It is an odd root so there
is no need for an absolute value sign.
y
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Use the product property to simplify expressions with higher roots
We will simplify expressions with higher roots in much the same way as we simplified expressions with square roots. An
n th root is considered simplified if it has no factors of
m
n .
Simplified
n Th root
a
n is considered simplified if
a has no factors of
m
n .
We will generalize the Product Property of Square Roots to include any integer root
n
≥
2 .
Product property of
n Th roots
a
b
n
=
a
n
·
b
n
and
a
n
·
b
n
=
a
b
n
when
a
n and
b
n are real numbers and for any integer
n
≥
2
Simplify:
ⓐ
x
4
3
ⓑ
x
7
4 .
Solution
ⓐ
x
4
3
Rewrite the radicand as a product using the
largest perfect cube factor.
x
3
·
x
3
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
x
3
3
·
x
3
Simplify.
x
x
3
ⓑ
x
7
4
Rewrite the radicand as a product using the
greatest perfect fourth power factor.
x
4
·
x
3
4
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
x
4
4
·
x
3
4
Simplify.
|
x
|
x
3
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Simplify:
ⓐ
16
3
ⓑ
243
4 .
Solution
ⓐ
16
3
2
4
3
Rewrite the radicand as a product using the
greatest perfect cube factor.
2
3
·
2
3
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
2
3
3
·
2
3
Simplify.
2
2
3
ⓑ
243
4
3
5
4
Rewrite the radicand as a product using the
greatest perfect fourth power factor.
3
4
·
3
4
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
3
4
4
·
3
4
Simplify.
3
3
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Don’t forget to use the absolute value signs when taking an even root of an expression with a variable in the radical.
Simplify:
ⓐ
24
x
7
3
ⓑ
80
y
14
4 .
Solution
ⓐ
24
x
7
3
Rewrite the radicand as a product using
perfect cube factors.
2
3
x
6
·
3
x
3
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
2
3
x
6
3
·
3
x
3
Rewrite the first radicand as
(
2
x
2
)
3
.
(
2
x
2
)
3
3
·
3
x
3
Simplify.
2
x
2
3
x
3
ⓑ
80
y
14
4
Rewrite the radicand as a product using
perfect fourth power factors.
2
4
y
12
·
5
y
2
4
Rewrite the radical as the product of two radicals.
2
4
y
12
4
·
5
y
2
4
Rewrite the first radicand as
(
2
y
3
)
4
.
(
2
y
3
)
4
4
·
5
y
2
4
Simplify.
2
|
y
3
|
5
y
2
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Source:
OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. Jan 18, 2017 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col12116/1.2
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