Question

Explain, in complete sentences, how adding and subtracting radicals and complex numbers is similar to adding and subtracting polynomials. Give one example of an addition or subtraction problem of radicals and one example of an addition or subtraction problem of complex numbers.

Answer 1

When adding and subtracting polynomial you combine like terms and add or subtract their coefficients. For example,

(x^2 - x + 2) + (3x^2 + x -1) = 4x^2 + 1.

When adding/subtracting radicals or complex numbers, you treat the number under the radical or the i the same as as you would the variables in the polynomial. For example,


3*Sqrt(2) + 6*Sqrt(2) + Sqrt(5) = 9*Sqrt(2) + Sqrt(5)