Algebra Honors (Period 6 & 7)

Adding and Subtracting Radicals 11-8

You can use the Distributive Property to simplify the sums of radicals like
4√7 + 5√7 = (4 +5)√7 = 9√7

UNLIKE radicands CANNOT be combined.
3√6-2√13+5√6
combine the LIKE radicands
8√6 -2√13

Express each radical in simplest form and you can sometimes combine terms in sums and differences of radicals
7√3- 4√6 + 2√48 -6√54 =
7√3 - 4√6 + 2√(16⋅3) -6√(9⋅6) =
7√3 - 4√6 + 8√3 - 18√6 =
15√3 -22√6

To simplify sums or differences of square root radicals
Express each radical in simplest form
Use the DP to add or subtract radicals with LIKE RADICANDS