Translating Algebraic Expressions with
Rational Exponents to Radicals and Vice Versa
Algebraic Radical Expressions
Expressions • or
•
•2
•z
Translating Algebraic Expressions with
Rational Exponents to Radicals and Vice Versa
Radical Expressions Algebraic
Expressions
•
•2
•z
Parts of Radicals
• Radicals
Radicand → 5 →
Radical signs
Index/indices → 3 → 2
• Note: If the index of a radical expression is not shown, it is understood to be
2.
How to read Radicals
√𝑥 2 → square root of x square
√5
3 → cube root of 5
√𝑚
4 3 → 4th root of m cube
•7 → 7 times the 5th root of 9n
Translating Algebraic Expressions
with Rational Exponents to Radicals
Expression with
Radical Form
Rational Exponents
𝑎
𝑚
𝑛 ¿ √𝑎
𝑛 𝑚
Translating Algebraic Expressions
with Rational Exponents to Radicals
Expression with
Rational Exponents 𝑎
𝑚
𝑛 Radical Form √𝑎
𝑛 𝑚
• =
Translating Algebraic Expressions
with Rational Exponents to Radicals
Expression with Radical Form
Rational Exponents
•2 → =
•z → =
Translating Algebraic Expressions
with Rational Exponents to Radicals
Expression with Radical Form
Rational Exponents
→ → =
→ → = ()
Translating Radicals to Algebraic
Expressions with Rational Exponents
Expression with
Radical Form
Rational Exponents
√5 =
√3 𝑥2 5 6
3 2 =
√𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 → =
=
Translating Radicals to Algebraic
Expressions with Rational Exponents
Expression with
Radical Form
Rational Exponents
√
→ =
4 √𝑥
5 3 → (
√𝑦
3
It’s your turn. Translate the following:
A. Expressions with Rational Exponents to Radicals
√𝟓
𝟔
→ =
→ =
→ → = ()
It’s your turn. Translate the following:
B. Radicals to Expressions with Rational Exponents
𝟏 𝟏
= 4) = ( 𝟓 𝟒
𝟓 𝟒
𝟏 𝟑
𝟑
(𝒚 ) 𝟒
𝒚 𝟒
= 17(
= =
¿ =
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Roots
• = 5 or -5
• = 2
• = 3 or -3
• =
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Roots
• = 5 or -5
• = 2 Principal Roots • Positive roots of radicals
with even indices
• = 3 or -3
•
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Principal Roots
Rational Irrational
• =5 • = 2.8284… Between 2 and 3
• =3 • = 9.7467… Between 9 and 10
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Exponents Inverse Operation Roots
2
2 =4 → =2
3
4 =64 →= 4
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Let a be real number and n be an integer greater than 1. The principal nth root of a can be
illustrated as follows:
a. If a is positive number, then is also a positive real number.
• =5
b. If a is a negative real number and n is an even number, then is not a real
number. • =no real root • =no real root
c. If a is a negative real number and n is an odd number, then it is a negative
real number. • = -2
d. If a is equal to zero, then is zero. • =0
Simplifying Radicals
For any integer x and y and positive integers m and n:
• Law 1: = → The factors of the radicand can be separated in
different radical expressions using the same
• Law 2: = indices
→ The numerator and denominator of a fractional
radicand can both be separated into two different
radical expressions using the same indices
• Law 3: = → Upon satisfying the form of Law 3, the indices
of the radicals can be multiplied.
Simplifying Radicals
For any integer x and y and positive integers m and n:
• Law 1: =
• Law 2: =
• Law 3: =
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Hints that radical expressions are simplified:
• When the radicand has no perfect nth factor.
Examples • •
• :When the exponent of the variable in the radicand is lesser than the
index.
Examples •
:
• When the exponent of the variable in the radicand and the index are relatively
prime
Examples • • )
:
• No radical sign4
in the denominator.
Examples √ y √ ) 3 4
y
3
: y √𝑚
Simplifying Radical Expressions
• Simplify the following
radicals:
1) =9
2) =3
3) =
Simplifying Radical Expression with Variables
How to determine if a variable is perfect nth?
• When the exponent is divisible by the
index.
Examples :
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Not all radical expressions have perfect nth radicands
√ 𝟏𝟐 √ 𝟖𝟎 •
• • •
Simplifying Radical Expressions
• Simplify the following
radicals:
1) =9 5)
2) =3
6)
3) =
4) = 2 7) =
Simplifying Radical Expressions
• Simplify the following
radicals:
8) = 9) =
Simplifying Radical Expressions
• Simplify the following
radicals:
10) = 11) = 12) 2 = 2ab
