Michigan Algebra I Sept. 2012

Simplifying radicals is important when an exact value is required or to make a complex variable expression easier to manipulate. The first step is to determine what power is important by looking at the degree of the root. If the expression contains a cube root, then perfect cubes will be needed. Likewise, if the expression contains an n^th root, then numbers or variables to the n^th power will be needed. The Product Property of Roots is also needed and will be explained in greater detail later in this book.

Example 1 Simplify .

This expression is a square root, so the degree is 2.