Radical DivisionExplanation & Practice

Radicals are divided using the property

a
. Additionally, the denominator of the fraction should be
b

rationalized; i.e., the fraction should be written as an equivalent fraction with no radical in the denominator.
For example,

75
25 3
5
5
3 5 3
. When there is a sum or difference in the

2 3
3
6
3
3 3

denominator, the fraction should be multiplied by the conjugate (opposite sign in the middle) of the
denominator divided by itself. For example,

3
3
2 5 3 2 5
6 3 5

3 5 -6.
4

1
2 5 2 5 2 5

Simplify: no radicals in the denominator!

1.

50
2

2.

54

1. ___________

3.

80

2. __________

3. __________
4. __________
4.

162
2

5.

108 x

6.

3x

75 x 3

5. __________

3x

6. __________
7. __________
7.

24 xy 3
6 xy

8.

1
5

9.

1
2

8. __________
9. __________
10. __________

10.

5
x

11.

12.

3x

48 x 4 y

11. __________

3x 2 y 3

12. __________
13. __________
13.

3 xy 5
27 x 3

14.

32 xy 5

15.

2x y

30 xy

14. __________

10 x 3 y 3

15. __________
13. __________
16.

1
3 1

17.

3
52

18.

9
3 6

17.

__________
18. __________
19. __________
Radical DivisionExplanation & Practice
9/05, rev 3/25/15mm-fd

574

6
2 5

19.

20.

2
3 3

21.

20. __________

21. __________
22. __________
3 36 3

22.

23.

9 2 3 2

24.

3 2

3 27

23. __________

12

24. __________
25. __________
8 x 2 3 128

25.

32

26.

2y

y3 7

y5

27.

9a 2 a 3a a 5
4a

26. __________
27. __________

Radical Division--Practice
Answer Key
1. 5

27. 3a 2

3
xy

15.

2. 3
3 1
2
17. 3 5 2

16.

3. 4

4. 9

18. 3 3 6

5. 6
6. 5x
7. 2y
5
5
2
9.
2
5 x
10.
x
2 3x
11.
x
4x
12. y

8.

y2 y
13.
3x

14.

4y2
x

19.

2 5
23

20.

33
3

21.

x xy
x y

22. 3
23. 2
24. 5
25. 2x 6
26. 9y 2
Radical DivisionExplanation & Practice
9/05, rev 3/25/15mm-fd

574