I need some help. I am having a hard time understanding and solving radical expressions. Can anyone give me a step by step explanation of how to solve them?

Question

I need some help.  I am having a hard time understanding and solving radical expressions.  Can anyone give me a step by step explanation of how to solve them?

anonymous · Answer

It would help if you write a problem. It is hard to talk about these things abstractly.

anonymous · Answer

This is what we are working on and I am completely lost;
$$\sqrt5 + \sqrt18$$

anonymous · Answer

There is not much more that can be done with this. The 'base' must be the same. The 5 and 18 are different.

anonymous · Answer

hmmm...I am confused then! :) because this is what my classmates are posting and they are solving them

anonymous · Answer

This is one for example: √30-√49

anonymous · Answer

$$\sqrt{30}-7$$

anonymous · Answer

Is that the final answer?

anonymous · Answer

yeah, your first example is really$$5^{1/2}+18^{1/2}$$It is like$$a ^{1/2}+b ^{1/2}$$You can't really add the exponents of a and b because the bases are different.

anonymous · Answer

thank you!

anonymous · Answer

My point stands, but in math one has to be careful and precise with language. You don't 'add' the exponents unless it is a multiplication operation, eg,$$a ^{1/2}a ^{1/2}=a ^{1} $$$$a ^{1/2}+a ^{1/2}=2a ^{1/2}$$