REVIEW TOPICS IN ALGEBRA

1.1 Set of Real Numbers

1.2 Integer Exponents
1.3 Polynomials
1.4 Factoring Polynomials
1.5 Rational Expressions
1.6 Rational Exponents
1.7 Properties of Radicals
1.8 Set of Complex Numbers (Supplementary)

1.7PROPERTIES OF RADICALS

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to:
1. State the properties of radicals
2. Simplify expressions using properties of radicals
3. Evaluate expressions on radicals

Key Ideas

 If 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.

𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(i) √𝑎 ∙ √𝑏 = √𝑎𝑏
𝑛
√𝑎 𝑛 𝑎
(ii) 𝑛 = √𝑏 (𝑏 ≠ 0)
√𝑏
where both 𝑎 ≥ 0 and 𝑏 ≥ 0 if 𝑛 is even.
4
√96
Example √4 ∙ √25 = 10 4 =2
√6
 Rationalizing the denominator.If the radicand of the radical is a fraction having a monomial in the denominator,
replace the radical by an equivalent expression for which the radicand contains no fraction.
3
3 √6𝑥 3 3𝑥 2 √12𝑥 2 𝑦
Example √ ,𝑥 >0 Ans. √2𝑦2 =
2𝑥 2𝑥 2𝑦

 Conjugate.From the special product (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 , each of the two factors is called the CONJUGATE
of the other. It is used to rationalize the denominator of a fraction when the denominator is a binomial containing
a radical of order 2.
√5−√2 7−2√10 √𝑥−1 1
Example = 3 𝑥−1
=
√5+√2 √𝑥+1
*NOTE: In calculus, it is sometimes necessary to rationalize the numerator of a fraction, which means that an equivalent
fraction is written that contains no radical in the numerator.

Collaborative Exercises 1.7 (with your 1 o’clock partner)

A. Find the root.
1. √81 = 16
3. √ =
25

3 3
2. √−64 = 4. √(−3)3 =

B. Find the product.

3 3
1. √16√36 = 3. √−4 √−2 =

4 4 4 4
2. √108 √12 = 4. √90 √90 =
C. Find the quotient.
3
√45 √72
1. = 3. 3 =
√5 √9

4
√3 √324
2.
√48
= 4. 4 =
√4

D. Find the product and simplify.

3 3
1. √10√30 = 3. (2 √9)(4 √−6) =

3 3
2. √−6𝑠 2 𝑡 4 √9𝑠 5 𝑡 2 = 4.
4
√
10 3 5 4
𝑎 𝑏 √24𝑎2 𝑏3 =
3

E. Rationalize the denominator. All the variables represent positive numbers.

2𝑥 √5
1. √3𝑦 = 3.
2√3
=

√7−3 3
2. = 4.
2−√3
=
√7+2