Algebra I: 1,001 Practice Problems For Dummies

Chapter 5

Raking in Radicals

Radical expressions are characterized by radical symbols and an index — a small number written in front of the radical symbol that indicates whether you have a cube root, a fourth root, and so on. When no number is written in front of the radical, you assume it's a square root.

The Problems You'll Work On

In this chapter, you get plenty of practice working with radicals in the following ways:

• Simplifying radical expressions by finding a perfect square factor
• Rationalizing denominators with one term
• Rationalizing denominators with two terms, using a conjugate
• Rewriting radicals with fractional exponents
• Dividing with radicals
• Solving operations involving fractional exponents
• Estimating the values of radical expressions

What to Watch Out For

As you get in your groove, solving one radical problem after another, don't overlook the following:

• Choosing the largest perfect square factor when simplifying a radical expression
• Multiplying correctly when writing equivalent fractions, using conjugates
• Performing operations correctly when fractions are involved
• Checking radical value estimates by comparing to nearest perfect square values

Simplifying Radical Expressions

191–196 Simplify the radical expressions.

191.

192.

193.

194.

195.

196.

Rationalizing ...