ACT Math › Simplifying Square Roots
Right triangle has legs of length
. What is the exact length of the hypotenuse?
If the triangle is a right triangle, then it follows the Pythagorean Theorem. Therefore:
--->
At this point, factor out the greatest perfect square from our radical:
Simplify the perfect square, then repeat the process if necessary.
Since is a prime number, we are finished!
Right triangle has legs of length
. What is the exact length of the hypotenuse?
If the triangle is a right triangle, then it follows the Pythagorean Theorem. Therefore:
--->
At this point, factor out the greatest perfect square from our radical:
Simplify the perfect square, then repeat the process if necessary.
Since is a prime number, we are finished!
Which of the following is equal to ?
√75 can be broken down to √25 * √3. Which simplifies to 5√3.
What is ?
We know that 25 is a factor of 50. The square root of 25 is 5. That leaves which can not be simplified further.
Which of the following is equal to ?
√75 can be broken down to √25 * √3. Which simplifies to 5√3.
What is ?
We know that 25 is a factor of 50. The square root of 25 is 5. That leaves which can not be simplified further.
Which of the following is equal to ?
When simplifying square roots, begin by prime factoring the number in question. For , this is:
Now, for each pair of numbers, you can remove that number from the square root. Thus, you can say:
Another way to think of this is to rewrite as
. This can be simplified in the same manner.
Which of the following is equal to ?
When simplifying square roots, begin by prime factoring the number in question. For , this is:
Now, for each pair of numbers, you can remove that number from the square root. Thus, you can say:
Another way to think of this is to rewrite as
. This can be simplified in the same manner.
What is the simplified (reduced) form of ?
It cannot be simplified further.
To simplify a square root, you have to factor the number and look for pairs. Whenever there is a pair of factors (for example two twos), you pull one to the outside.
Thus when you factor 96 you get
What is the simplified (reduced) form of ?
It cannot be simplified further.
To simplify a square root, you have to factor the number and look for pairs. Whenever there is a pair of factors (for example two twos), you pull one to the outside.
Thus when you factor 96 you get