Chapter 4.

RADICALS
Radicals & Roots In chapter 2, we defined

a n = a a a a
up to m factors of a

for integral values of m(+,-,0). We

extend the definition to fractional exponents. If n is any number Here, Examples:

1

n 0,

n n (a n ) n = a na a n = a a 1 1 1 1 1

n factors

is the number whose nth power is a.

1 1

(a 2 ) 2 = a 2 a 2 = a

(b 3 ) 3 = b 3 b 3 b 3 = b
1 1 1 1

Definition: A radical is an expression that takes the form n a which is read as nth root of a. In the notation n a , the symbol is the radical sign, n is the index or order of the radical and a is the radicand. The following are examples of radicals: a. 2 x - radical of order 2 c.
3

y3

- radical of order 5 - radical of order n

b. 5 x +1 - radical of order 3 d. x y Note: If the index is omitted, n is understood to be 2.

n

Principal nth root of a Real Number 1. b ; if b n = a , (n is odd ) a < 0

2.

b ; if ( b) n = a , ( n is even ) a > 0

Generalization about the nth root of a Real Number Real No. ( a ) Positive Positive or negative negative zero ( 0 ) Positive Integer ( n>1 ) even odd even even or odd Real Roots ( n a ) n a and n a n a is the principal root
a is the principal root None Zero
n

Ex. Find the root/s of each of the following radicals:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
5

121

6.
7.

11

32 8 125 64
49

100
5

8.
9.

32 243
128
6

10 .

0 12

Relationship Between Radicals and Powers with Fractional Exponents

1.

If a is a real number, and n is a positive integer greater than 1 such that the principal nth root of a is a real number, then;
a1 / n = n a

Examples: a. 641 / 2 = 64
1 81 1 = =8 = 3 3 Let m and n be relatively prime positive integers. If a is a real number such a is a real number, then by the 4th exponential law,

b. (27 )1 / 3 = 3 27

1 c. 81

1/ 4

=4

2.

that

a m / n = a1 / n am / n

( ) = (a )

= ( n a ) m and = n am

m 1/ n

Examples: a. 16 3 / 2 = ( 16 )3

b. 27 2 / 3 = (3 27 ) 2

c. (8) 4 / 3 = (3 8 ) 4

= ( ) 4 2 = 32 = 43 = 64 =9 =16 m/n m 1/ n The above examples can also be evaluated using the definition, a = a = n am

( )

a. 16 3 / 2 = ( 16 3
= 4096

b. 27 2 / 3 = (3 27 2
= 3 729

c. (8) 4 / 3 = (3 (8) 4
= 3 4096 =16 is simpler than

= 64 =9 Comparing the computations applying the two definitions, ( n a ) m n am .

3.

If m and n are positive even integers and a is a real number, then;

(a m )1 / n = a
m/n

Examples: 3 a. [( ) 2 ]1 / 2 = 3 =3
4.

b.

[( 4 ) 2 ]1 / 4 = 6 6 4

2/4

= 64 1 / 2

If m = n ,
( a n )1 / n = a

=8

( if n is even)

or equivalently;
n

an = a

Examples: a. a 2 = a
5.

b.
n 1/ n

( ) 4 = 3 3

If n is odd, then (a )
n

=3 = a or equivalently;

an = a

Examples: a. 3 23 = 2

b.

( )5 = 2 2

The relationship between a power with fractional exponent and its corresponding radical may be summarized as follows:

Power a m n

Radical ( n a ) m radicand exponent or power index or order

base numerator of exponent denominator of exponent

Negative Rational Exponent

Definition If m and n are positive integers that are relatively prime and a is a real number and a 0 , then if n a is a real number; 1 am / n = m / n a
Changing from Exponential form to Radical form & (vice versa) A. A. Change the following expressions to radical form:

1. (2 x)
3

3. ( 3z )
1 4 2

5. m 2 + n 2
5

2. 9 x 4 y

4. a 5 b

A. B. Change the following radicals to exponential form:

1.

(5 xy ) 3

3.
4.

7 xy

5.

16 3

2. 23 a 2 + b 2

3a 5 b 3 c 4

A. C. Evaluate the following expressions with fractional exponents:

1. 25 2

3. ( 25 2 )
2 3

5. 81 4

2. ( 64)

16 4. 81

A. D. Evaluate the following radicals:

1.
4

81

3.

32
121 4. 49
2

243 5. 5 1024

2. 8
3

Operations of Powers with Fractional Exponents In performing operations on powers with fractional exponents, the laws of exponents discussed in the previous chapter are applied.

Perform the indicated operations and simplify without negative exponents. Assume that all variables represent +real numbers.

1. x

( )
6
1

6..
6

18a 3 b
2

24a 3 b
3 2 3y
1 5 2

m2 2. 2 n3

7.
1

( 3y)

3. 2 x 3 y
27 m 6 4. n3

)
3

8. r 2 + s 2 r 2 s 2
1 3 1 3

)(

9. 2 x 3 3x
5

)( )
3 4
3 4 5 4

5. 3 p 5 q

10.

5x 2 y 53 x 2 y
1

Properties of Radicals Recall that

an= na
1

and

an=

summarized as follows:

( a)
n

= n am

. The properties that govern radicals are

Properties of Radicals Let a and b be real numbers, m and n be positive integers and n 1 such that all the radicals involved define real numbers.
1. 2. 3. 4.
n
n

am =

a n b = n ab , where a 0 , b 0 if n is even

( a)
n

n n

a n a = ,b0 b b
a = mn a

m n

Evaluate the following radicals: 1. 3 27 2

4

6. 7. 8. 9.

32 4

2. 3. 4. 5.
3

81 9
13

64 4
xy 3 xyz

, x=2, y=3,z=6

( 5) 3
10

27 x 9x
5

, x=3

10.

a 2b3 , a=2, b=3, c=12 c

Simplification of Radicals A radical is said to be in simplest form when the following conditions are satisfied. a. There is no perfect nth power factors in the radicand. b. There is no fraction in the radicand. c. The index of the radical is reduced to its lowest possible index. Simplify each of the following:

1. 2.
5

7 x4 y2 z 5

6. 7.

81m 5 n 8

11. 12.

256 x 4 y 8

64 a

16

( a +b)

3ab 2 8c 3
x 2 y 4 +x 4 y 2

3.

3 8m 2

8.

2x 2 y 5 25 x 2

13.

4.

9.

a 4 b 16 c a 10 32

14.

m 2 +n 2

5.

125

10.

15.

a 5 + 4a 3 b 2 + 4ab 4

Operations on Expressions Involving Radicals Addition and Subtraction of Radicals To add or to subtract radicals, first reduce the given radicals whenever possible to similar radicals by any of the procedures of simplification discussed earlier and then combine similar radicals according to the Distributive Law of Addition. It follows that only similar radicals, that is, radicals of the same index and the same radicand can be combined. In symbols, if n a is real, then r n a s n a = ( r s ) n a The following are examples of similar radicals : 2 3 and 5 3 , 3 2 xy and 7 3 2 xy Note: Dissimilar radicals cannot be combined. Examples of dissimilar radicals are : 3 2 xy , 2 xy and 5 2 xy , 3 x 2 y 3 xy 2 and 3 x 2 y 2 Perform the indicated operations and simplify:

1. 11

7 4 7 +5 7 7

3.

2 3 6 + 24 3 2

2.

3 12 +5 2 2 48

4.

27 m 3 + 8m 5 m 16 m

5.

162 x 5 y 5 4 512 xy 4 2 xy + 4 32 xy

7.

2 yx

y 1 x2 y + 6 x2 y 00 4

6. 4 32 23 108 + 53 500
Multiplication and Division of Radicals

8. 3 16 x 2 + x 3

2 x2 43 x 4

Earlier, it was mentioned that only radicals of the same index having the same radicand can be combined. In multiplication and division, it is only important that the radicals must be of the same index. The following summarizes the properties of radicals to be used. Property 1. n a n b = n ab for multiplication of radicals

a n a n = , b 0 b b Note: Sometimes, it is easier to simplify first each of the radical before performing the indicated operation.
Property 2.
n

Find the product or quotient of the following radicals and simplify:

3

1. 3

6y 2 3 9y 2

6.

250 2m 3

2.

12 m 5 3m

7.

( (

2a + 3

3. 12 x 5 3x

8.

2 x +9

)(

2 x 9

4.

81b 5
4

9. (6 3 + x )

5.

a 4b 3 a 2b 4

10. (2 5 2 )( 5 + 2 2 )

Radicals of different indices can be multiplied or divided. In this case, the radicals are first changed to radicals of same index before applying the properties of radicals. Find the product / quotient and simplify: 1.
4

5 2

3.

5 2

2. 3

y 4 2 y

4.

( a + b) 3 ( a + b)

5.

3
3

8.

b4

b3

6.

x3 x
3

9.

3 4 6

7.

m 2 n 3 3 mn 2

10.

ab 3 2ab

Rationalization of Denominators 3 An expression such as , can be expressed in simplest form if the radical can be 7 replaced by an expression which contains no radicals in its denominator. To do so, rationalization of the denominator should be employed. The following formulas may prove useful to get rid of a fraction containing a denominator of radicals. 1. a a = a 2. (r a + s b )( r a s b ) = r 2 a s 2b (the 2 factors/expressions are conjugates of each other.) 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 3 3 3. (r a + s b )( r a rs ab + s b ) = r 3a + s 3b 4. (r 3 a s 3 b )( r 2 3 a 2 + rs 3 ab + s 2 3 b 2 ) = r 3a s 3b Note: Rationalization of the denominator involves multiplying both numerator and denominator by any one of the relations mentioned above. Rationalize each of the following expressions:

1.

3 7

6.

1 1 3 2
1 1+ 3 x + 3 x 2

2.

5x 2 3

7.

3.

2
4

8.

2 +2 5 2 5

1 2 1 2

4.

3 5 + 11

9.

x
3

x 2

5.

5 2 5 +3 2

10.

x 2 8 2 x + 4 x 12

Complex Numbers In a radical expression, in case the radicand is a negative real number and the index is even, we can simplify the radical by applying the concept and use of complex numbers. Definition: For real numbers a and b, the expression a + bi where i 2 = 1 is called a complex number.

In the expression a + bi , the real number a is called the real part and the real number b is called the imaginary part. A new symbol i, called the imaginary unit, satisfies the property;
i 2 = 1 or i= 1

For example, 25 = 25 ( 1) = 25 i 2 = 5i or applying the property of imaginary unit;

25 = 25 ( 1) = 25 1 = 5i

The following are complex numbers: a. 3i b. 1 7i c.

2. ( i 4 + 2 )

5 i 2

d.
5

1 3 + i 2 4

Evaluate: 1. i 4 i 9 + 3i 7 + i 48 Operations on Complex Numbers

Addition and Subtraction of Complex Numbers If we let a + bi and c + di , be any two complex numbers, the sum and difference of these complex numbers are given as follows: 1. 2.

( a + bi ) + ( c + di ) = ( a + c ) + ( b + d ) i ( a + bi ) ( c + di ) = ( a c ) + ( b d ) i

Example. Perform the indicated operation on each and simplify: a. ( 9 + 3i ) + ( 4 7i ) b. ( 8 2i ) (10 + i )

Multiplication and Division of Complex Numbers In multiplying complex numbers, we use the fact that i 2 = 1 in the resulting expression while complex conjugates a + bi and a bi are used to complete the division process before the property that i 2 = 1 is applied. The formula may be summarized as follows: If we let a + bi and c + di be any two complex numbers, then: 1. ( a + bi )( c + di ) = ( ac bd ) + ( ad + bc ) i ( a + bi ) = ac + bd + bc ad i , c 2 + d 2 0 2. ( c + di ) c 2 + d 2 c 2 + d 2

Example: Perform the indicated operation and simplify the following:

a.

( 2 + 5i )( 5 3i )

b.

2 + 5i 5 3i

Exercises: Perform the indicated operation and simplify each of the following:

1. ( 2 + 3i ) ( 6 + 2i ) + ( 5 13i )

1 2 8. + 3 3

2.

5 6 20 13 9 7 i+ i + i 3 5 15 2 21 6

9. ( 2 i ) 3

3.

125 64 + 108

10.

5 + 2i 3 4i

4.

3a 5b a 0 9b + 4a8 2b

11.

2 + 25 3 4

5. 2( 3 x + 2 yi ) + 3( x 5 yi ) 6( 2 x 3 yi )

12.

2i 2 5i + 7 2 9i 2 18i 2

6.

4 25 12

13.

25 i 2 144 +3 9 +5 100 i

7.

7 7

)(

7 4 7

14.

3i 2 + 4i 6 4i 3 4i 2 + 3