chapter 8 roots and radicals. martin-gay, introductory algebra, 3ed 2 8.1 – introduction to...
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 8
Roots and Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 2
8.1 – Introduction to Radicals
8.2 – Simplifying Radicals
8.3 – Adding and Subtracting Radicals
8.4 – Multiplying and Dividing Radicals
8.5 – Solving Equations Containing Radicals
8.6 – Radical Equations and Problem Solving
Chapter Sections
§ 8.1
Introduction to Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 4
Square Roots
Opposite of squaring a number is taking the square root of a number.
A number b is a square root of a number a if b2 = a.
In order to find a square root of a, you need a # that, when squared, equals a.
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 5
The principal (positive) square root is noted as
a
The negative square root is noted as
a
Principal Square Roots
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 6
Radical expression is an expression containing a radical sign.
Radicand is the expression under a radical sign.
Note that if the radicand of a square root is a negative number, the radical is NOT a real number.
Radicands
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 7
49 7
16
25
4
5
4 2
Radicands
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 8
Square roots of perfect square radicands simplify to rational numbers (numbers that can be written as a quotient of integers).
Square roots of numbers that are not perfect squares (like 7, 10, etc.) are irrational numbers.
IF REQUESTED, you can find a decimal approximation for these irrational numbers.
Otherwise, leave them in radical form.
Perfect Squares
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 9
Radicands might also contain variables and powers of variables.
To avoid negative radicands, assume for this chapter that if a variable appears in the radicand, it represents positive numbers only.
1064x 58x
Perfect Square Roots
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 10
The cube root of a real number a
abba 33 ifonly
Note: a is not restricted to non-negative numbers for cubes.
Cube Roots
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 11
3 27 3
3 68x 22x
Cube Roots
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 12
Other roots can be found, as well.
The nth root of a is defined as
abba nn ifonly
If the index, n, is even, the root is NOT a real number when a is negative.
If the index is odd, the root will be a real number.
nth Roots
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 13
Simplify the following.
20225 ba 105ab
39
364
b
a3
4
b
a
nth Roots
Example
§ 8.2
Simplifying Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 15
baab
0b if b
a
b
a
a bIf and are real numbers,
Product Rule for Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 16
Simplify the following radical expressions.
40 104 102
16
5 16
5
4
5
15 No perfect square factor, so the radical is already simplified.
Simplifying Radicals
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 17
Simplify the following radical expressions.
7x xx6 xx6 xx3
16
20
x
16
20
x
8
54
x 8
52
x
Simplifying Radicals
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 18
nnn baab
0 if n
n
n
n bb
a
b
a
n a n bIf and are real numbers,
Quotient Rule for Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 19
Simplify the following radical expressions.
3 16 3 28 33 28 3 2 2
3
64
3 3
3
64
3
4
33
Simplifying Radicals
Example
§ 8.3
Adding and Subtracting Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 21
Sums and Differences
Rules in the previous section allowed us to split radicals that had a radicand which was a product or a quotient.
We can NOT split sums or differences.
baba
baba
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 22
In previous chapters, we’ve discussed the concept of “like” terms.
These are terms with the same variables raised to the same powers.
They can be combined through addition and subtraction.
Similarly, we can work with the concept of “like” radicals to combine radicals with the same radicand.Like radicals are radicals with the same index and the same radicand.
Like radicals can also be combined with addition or subtraction by using the distributive property.
Like Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 23
373 38
24210 26
3 2 42 Can not simplify
35 Can not simplify
Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 24
Simplify the following radical expression. 331275
3334325
3334325
333235
3325 36
Example
Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 25
Simplify the following radical expression.
91464 33
9144 3 3 145
Example
Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 26
Simplify the following radical expression. Assume that variables represent positive real numbers.
xxx 5453 3 xxxx 5593 2
xxxx 5593 2
xxxx 5533
xxxx 559
xxx 59 xx 510
Example
Adding and Subtracting Radical Expressions
§ 8.4
Multiplying and Dividing Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 28
nnn abba
0 if b b
a
b
an
n
n
n a n bIf and are real numbers,
Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 29
Simplify the following radical expressions.
xy 53 xy15
23
67
ba
ba
23
67
ba
ba44ba 22ba
Multiplying and Dividing Radical Expressions
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 30
Many times it is helpful to rewrite a radical quotient with the radical confined to ONLY the numerator.
If we rewrite the expression so that there is no radical in the denominator, it is called rationalizing the denominator.
This process involves multiplying the quotient by a form of 1 that will eliminate the radical in the denominator.
Rationalizing the Denominator
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 31
Rationalize the denominator.
2
3
2
2
3 9
6
3
3
3
3
22
23
2
6
33
3
39
3 6
3
3
27
3 6
3
3 6 33 3 2
Rationalizing the Denominator
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 32
Many rational quotients have a sum or difference of terms in a denominator, rather than a single radical.
In that case, we need to multiply by the conjugate of the numerator or denominator (which ever one we are rationalizing).
The conjugate uses the same terms, but the opposite operation (+ or ).
Conjugates
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 33
Rationalize the denominator.
32
23
332322
3222323
32
32
32
322236
1
322236
322236
Rationalizing the Denominator
Example
§ 8.5
Solving Equations Containing Radicals
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 35
Power Rule (text only talks about squaring, but applies to other powers, as well).
If both sides of an equation are raised to the same power, solutions of the new equation contain all the solutions of the original equation, but might also contain additional solutions.
A proposed solution of the new equation that is NOT a solution of the original equation is an extraneous solution.
Extraneous Solutions
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 36
Solve the following radical equation.
51 x
2251 x
251x
24x
24 1 5
525 true
Substitute into the original equation.
So the solution is x = 24.
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 37
Solve the following radical equation.
55 x
2255 x
255 x
5x
5 55 525
Does NOT check, since the left side of the equation is asking for the principal square root.
So the solution is .
Substitute into the original equation.
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 38
Steps for Solving Radical Equations1) Isolate one radical on one side of equal sign.
2) Raise each side of the equation to a power equal to the index of the isolated radical, and simplify. (With square roots, the index is 2, so square both sides.)
3) If equation still contains a radical, repeat steps 1 and 2. If not, solve equation.
4) Check proposed solutions in the original equation.
Solving Radical Equations
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 39
Solve the following radical equation.
011 x
11 x
2211 x
11x
2x
2 1 1 0 011
011 true
Substitute into the original equation.
So the solution is x = 2.
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 40
Solve the following radical equation.
812 xx
xx 281
22281 xx
2432641 xxx 2433630 xx )421)(3(0 xx
213 or 4
x
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 41
Substitute the value for x into the original equation, to check the solution.
3 32( ) 1 8 846 true
21 21 14
24
8
84
25
2
21
82
5
2
21
82
26 falseSo the solution is x = 3.
Example continued
Solving Radical Equations
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 42
Solve the following radical equation.425 yy
22425 yy
44445 yyy
445 y
44
5 y
22
44
5
y
416
25y
16
89
16
254 y
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 43
Substitute the value for x into the original equation, to check the solution.
5 289 891
46 16
16
252
16
169
4
52
4
13
4
3
4
13 false So the solution is .
Example continued
Solving Radical Equations
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 44
Solve the following radical equation.24342 xx
43242 xx
2243242 xx
43434442 xxx
4343842 xxx
43412 xx
22 43412 xx6448)43(16144242 xxxx
080242 xx
0420 xx
20or 4x
Solving Radical Equations
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 45
Substitute the value for x into the original equation, to check the solution.
2( ) 4 3( 4 24 4) 2164
242
true
2( ) 4 3( ) 420 20 2
26436
286
true
So the solution is x = 4 or 20.
Example continued
Solving Radical Equations
§ 8.6
Radical Equations and Problem Solving
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 47
Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the lengths of the two legs is equal to the square of the length of the hypotenuse.
(leg a)2 + (leg b)2 = (hypotenuse)2
leg ahypotenuse
leg b
The Pythagorean Theorem
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 48
Find the length of the hypotenuse of a right triangle when the length of the two legs are 2 inches and 7 inches.
c2 = 22 + 72 = 4 + 49 = 53
53c = inches
Using the Pythagorean Theorem
Example
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 49
By using the Pythagorean Theorem, we can derive a formula for finding the distance between two points with coordinates (x1,y1) and (x2,y2).
212
212 yyxxd
The Distance Formula
Martin-Gay, Introductory Algebra, 3ed 50
Find the distance between (5, 8) and (2, 2).
212
212 yyxxd
22 28)2(5 d
22 63 d
5345369 d
The Distance Formula
Example