Question

I have a question about Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions.

Does it matter what numbers you use when factoring out radicals for Adding and Subtracting Radicals?

I will attach an example of a problem.

Answer 1

@e.cociuba

Answer 2

\[\sqrt{8}+\sqrt{72}=\sqrt{4*2}+\sqrt{36*2}=2\sqrt{2}+6\sqrt{2}=8\sqrt{2}\]

Answer 3

post the sample i get old

Answer 4

That is the sample above, which is what I just posted a few moments ago.

Answer 5

i dont understand that is right

Answer 6

I am asking does it matter what numbers you use to factor out square root 72. Do you have to use 36 X 2 or 9 X 8? @julian25

Answer 7

You did it correctly.

Answer 8

I understand that. But does it matter what numbers you use for factoring out radical expressions?

Answer 9

9 x 8 is incomplete. After that you would still have to factor the 9 into 3 x 3 and the 8 into 4 x 2. You would still get the same answer either way, but the way that you did it saved you some time by requiring less steps.

Answer 10

but u will get the same result
sqrt(36*2)=sqrt(9*8)= 6*sqrt(2)

Answer 11

The 36 X 2 is less work because you have less to factor?

Answer 12

You were able to see right away that 72 = 36 x 2, and that 36 is a perfect square. That saved you some steps and some time. That's all. If you had factored it differently, and kept factoring until you had factored out all the perfect squares, you would have come up with the same answer.

Answer 13

Thank you for the help. @EulersEquation

Answer 14

Thanks for the props.

Answer 15

No problem. @EulersEquation

Answer 16

Thank you for helping me, too. @julian25