(Effective Alternative Secondary Education)

MATHEMATICS II
Y

MODULE 3
Radical Expressions

BUREAU OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

Department of Education
DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City
 Module 3
Radical Expressions

What this module is about

In module 1, you have learned how to identify perfect squares and perfect
cubes. The following lessons will help you simplify radical expressions that are
not perfect nth root and those whose denominators contain square roots. You
will also find the importance of understanding the relation between the radicand,
the root and the index. Learn to appreciate every discussion in this module and
feel free to browse the two previous modules on radical expressions for
clarifications.

What you are expected to learn

This module is designed for you to:

1. Identify the radicand and index in a radical expression.

2. Simplify the radical expression n

x in such a way that the radicand
contains no perfect nth root.

3. Rationalize a fraction whose denominator contains square roots.

How much do you know

A. Identify the radicand and index of the following and then simplify.

1) 24 6) 3
40

2) 40 7) 3
32

3) 48 8) 4
48

4) 80 9) 5
96

5) 63 10) 6
192

2
 B. Simplify the following radical expressions.

1) 125x 2 y 3 6) 128b11

2) 12a 3 y 5 7) 50x 9 y 7

3) 20mn 8) 4
48a 5b8c 15

4) 3
54a 6 9) 5
96a 6b20

5) 10) 8 x  y 
3 5
81x12 3

C. Rationalize the denominator.

3 1
1) 6)
2 3
4 3
2) 7)
3 4

5 1
3) 8) 3
8 4

3 2
4) 9)
5 3

2 12
5) 10)
8 5

What you will do

Lesson 1

Simplifying Radicals

In the radical expression n x “read as nth root of x, x is called the

radicand, n is the index and the symbol is called radical sign. In 4 16 , 16 is
called the radicand and 4 is the index of the radical. In a , the index is omitted,
it is understood to be 2 or square root.

Examples:

1. 3
27 You are taking the cube root of 27. 27 is the radicand and 3

3
 is the index.

2. 6
64 You are taking the 6th root of 64. 64 is the radicand and 6 is
the index.

Simplifying Radicals:

A radical is in its simplest form when:

1) There is no perfect nth power in the radicand when the index is n.

2) There is no radical in the denominator or a fraction in the radicand.
3) The index is the lowest possible index.

In general, the properties of radicals which can be useful in simplifying

radicals can be expressed as follows.

For any nonnegative real numbers x and y and positive integers m and n,

1) n xy  n x  n y The Product Rule for Radicals

n
x x
2) n  The Quotient Rule for Radicals
y n y
1

x   x m 
1

3) by definition of nth root

n
n m
 
1
 x mn by the Law of Exponents for Powers
 mn x by definition of nth root.
Therefore, n m
x  mn x

Examples: Simplify the following:

1. 96 5. x7
2. 8 6. 3x 8x 3 y13
3. 5 96 7. 25 x  2
2

4. 3 90
Solutions:

1) 96 Write the radicand as a product of a perfect

square and factors that do not contain perfect
96  16  6 squares.
4 6 Extract the root of the perfect square factor and
affix the factor which is not a perfect square.

4
 Therefore, the simplest form of 96 is 4 6 .

2) 8 Factor such that one factor is a perfect square.

8 4 2 4 is the perfect square.

2 2 Simplify.

Therefore, the simplest form of 8 2 2 .

3) 5
96 Factor

5
96 = 5
32  5 3 5
32 is 2 because 25 is 32.
= 25 3

Therefore, the simplest form of 5

96 is 25 3 .

4) 3 90

3 90  3 9  10
Factor such that one factor is a perfect square.
 3  3  10 9 is the perfect square.
 9 10 Simplify.
Therefore, the simplest form of 3 90 is 9 10 .

5) x7
Write x7 as the product of a perfect square and x.
x7  x6  x
 x6  x Use the Product Property of Square Roots.
 x3 x
Simplify the perfect square.
Therefore, the simplest form of x7 is x 3 x .

6) 3x 8x 3 y13

3x 8x 3 y13  3x 4x 2 y12  2xy  Write the radicand as a factor of a perfect square

and 2xy.
 3x 4x 2 y 12  2xy
Use the Product Property of Square Roots.
 3x  2xy 6 2xy
Simplify.
 6x 2 y 6 2xy

Therefore, the simplest form of 3x 8x 3 y13 is 6x 2 y 6 2xy .

5
7) 25 x  2
2

Write the radicand as a product of a perfect

25 x  2  x  2 2
2
 25  squares. Both factors are perfect squares.

 5   x  2 Simplify.

 5x  10

Therefore, the simplest form of 25 x  2 is 5x + 10.

2

Try this out

A. Identify the radicand and index of the following and then simplify:

1) 16 6) 5
100000

2) 3
64 7) 225

3) 49 8) 4
625

36
4) 144 9)
81

169
5) 121 10)
256

B. Simplify the following:

1) 45 6) 126

2) 12 7) 112

3) 75 8) 180

4) 48 9) 3
40

5) 72 10) 3
32

C. Math Integration:

Principal Language of Bangladesh

What is the principal language of Bangladesh? This is used by over

210,000,000 natives, and spoken primarily in Bangladesh and India.

6
 To find out, simplify the following radicals. Cross out the boxes that
contain an answer. The remaining boxes will spell out the Bangladesh’s principal
language.

1) b15 5) 3
80m2

2) y19 6) 2a 18a 3b10

3) 7) 16 x  5 
2
24x 5

4) 45b 7

B I A B A E
9 3 2 5
y y 2 10m3 2 3b 5b 2 6a b 2a 3 5

N M G L A L
b 7
b 6 x 4x  20 10y 5 3

I E
2 2
6x 2x 2x 6x

Answer: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

Source: Math Journal

Volume X – Number 4

D. Math Activity

What is the theme song of the Walt Disney’s animated movie Aladdin sang
by Lea Salonga and Brad King? Simplify each expression below and find your
answer at the bottom. Place the letter in the box above the answer.

3a 1 b 5d
L R 2 xy L W
4b 4 3 8x 2
3x 7r 6 t d2 2a2
O 4y L H W
4 r 4t 3m2n
m 5a 2b 4c bc 3c 3
N D E E 6rt 2 
3n 2 m3n4 5r 7 t 2
2s2 x 3
3m5n5
E 5t O 5 W 4b
N
1 2 a 4 5c 5
2 a xy
2 xy 2 E 9y 6a2b
A A E

ax 10d 5x suot 3mn 4a m 3b 3 xy ab 2 10c

xy 4 5 5 3n 3n 2b 2 2
7
a 10 d t r 3 7t 3b bcm 4 y 3xy 3ab
2 2
2 r 2t 2 3 m n 3y 4y 2b
 Lesson 2

Rationalizing the Denominator of Radicals

A radical is not considered simplified if there is a radical sign in the

denominator. To remove the radical sign is to rationalize.

The process of eliminating the radicals in the denominator is called

rationalization.

Examples:

5 This is not simplified because there is a radical sign

1)
2 in the denominator.

To simplify, rationalize or remove the radical sign in the denominator.

Solution:

5 2 Multiply both numerator and denominator by 2 (the


2 2 given denominator) to make the denominator a perfect
square.

10
 Simplify.
4

10 The denominator is now free

 of radicals.
2

5 10
Therefore, the simplest form of is .
2 2

4x 2
2) Simplify:
z6

8
 4x 2 4x 2 Rewrite the radical expression as the
 quotient of the square roots.
z6 z6

2x
 Simplify.
z3

4x 2 2x
Therefore, the simplest form of is 3 .
z 6
z

2
3) Simplify:
3
3
2 2 3 Multiply the expression by to make the denominator
  3
3 3 3 a perfect square.

2 3
 The denominator is a perfect
9 square.

2 3 Simplify.

3
2 2 3
Therefore, is in simplest form, , because no radical remains in
3 3
the denominator and the numerator radical contains no perfect-square factors
other than 1.

When the denominator contains a binomial radical expression, simplify the

radical expression by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the
conjugate of the denominator.

2y
4) Simplify:
y 3

2y 2y y 3 Multiply the numerator and denominator by

  y  3 , the conjugate of y 3.
y 3 y 3 y 3

2y 2  3 2y
 Simplify by multiplying both numerator and write it
y2  9 over the product of the denominator.

y 2  3 2y
 The denominator is now free of radicals.
y9

Try this out

9
 A. Math Integration

An African Festival

This seven-day African festival is celebrated beginning December 26. It

celebrates seven virtues: unity, self-determination, collective work, responsibility,
cooperative economics, creativity, and faith. This celebration means first fruits in
Swahili, and African language.

What is the festival called?

To find out, rationalize the denominator of the following radicals. Encircle

the correct answer. Then write the letter in the blank that goes with the number.

3 2 6
1) J K
8 3 4

10 30 10
2) W X
3 3 3

1 3
3) A 3 E
3 3

3 3 2
4) M N
4 2 3

2 2 1
5) Y Z
8 4 2

3 15 5
6) A O
5 5 3
5 5 3 3
7) A E
3 3 3

Answer: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Source: Math Journal, Volume X, Number 3

SY 2002-2003

B. Rationalize the denominator.

10
 a a 4b 4
1) 6)
2 c3

2c 7x
2) 7)
5 2y 3

5x y
3) 3y
8)
6

5mn 3
4) 9)
2x x

7m2 2d
5) 10) 3
y3 16

C. Math Game: (Source: Math Journal, Volume XI, November 29, 2004)

What Did the Farmer Get When He Tried to Reach the Beehive?

To find out, simplify the following radicals. Encircle the letter that
corresponds to the correct answer. Then fill in the blanks below. Have fun!

1 5
1) Y 5 5 Z
5 5

3 6 6
2) O U
8 2 4

5 15 5
3) A E
27 9 3
5 5 3 15
4) S R
3 3 3

2 14 2
5) N P
7 7 7

2 5 2 15 10
6) G H
3 3 3

4 6
7) A 4 3 E 4 2
2
3
1 2
8) 3 Y 3
4 Z
4 2
3
7 7
9) 3  B  C  3 70
1000 10

11
 1 3 5
10) 3  L M  3 70
25 5
3 3
5 30 36
11) 3 Y Z
36 6 5
7 35 7 5
12) E I
5 5 5

Answer: ___ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
3 9 2 1 8 11 4 12 6 5 7 10

Let’s summarize
Expressions using the radical sign are called radical expressions. In
the expression n x , n is called the index, x is the radicand and is the radical
symbol. The index of the radical symbol is understood as 2 and is read as
square root.

A radicand is the number inside the radical sign or the number whose root
is being considered.

An index is a small number or letter which indicates the order of the

radical.

A radical is in its simplest form when:

a. There is no perfect nth power in the radicand when the index is n.

b. There is no radical in the denominator or a fraction in the radicand.
c. The index is the lowest possible index.

The process of eliminating the radicals in the denominator is called

rationalization.

What have you learned

A. Simplify the following.

1) 32 6) 125

2) 50 7) 112

12
 3) 18 8) 175

4) 28 9) 99

5) 108 10) 288

B. Identify the radicand and index of the following and simplify:

1) 3
54 6) 99y11

2) 4
48 7) 98x 4

3) 5
96 8)  88x12
4) 6
192 9)  162x 2 y 10

5) 252 10)  50x 9 y11

C. Simplify the following:

32 4
1) 6)
2 6

45 4x 2 y
2) 7)
5 xy

98 4x 2 y 5
3) 8)
2 3x 4 y

48 2
4) 9)
3 2 6

27a 5
5) 10)
3a 7 5

Answer Key
How much do you know

A. 1) 2 6

2) 2 10

3) 4 3

13
 4) 4 5

5) 3 7
6) 23 5
7) 23 4
8) 24 3
9) 25 3
10) 26 3

B. 1) 5xy 5y

2) 2ay 2 3ay

3) 2 5mn

4) 3a2 3 2
5) 3x 4 3 3
6) 8b 5 2b
7) 5x 4 y 3 2xy

8) 2ab 2c 3 4 3ac 3
9) 2ab 4 5 3a

10) 2 x  y  3  x  y 
2

6
C. 1)
2

4 3
2)
3

10
3)
4

15
4)
5
1
5)
2
3
6)
3

3
7)
2

14
 3
2
8)
2
6
9)
3

2 15
10)
5

Try this out

Lesson 1
A. 1) 4
2) 4
3) 7
4) 12
5) 11
6) 10
7) 15
8) 5
6
9)
9
13
10)
16

B. 1) 3 5

2) 2 3

3) 5 3

4) 4 3

5) 6 2
6) 3 14
7) 4 7
8) 6 5

9) 23 5
10) 23 4

15
C. 1) b7 b
2) y9 y

3) 2x 2 6x
4) 3b3 5b
5) 23 10m2
6) 6a 2b5 2a
7) 4x  20

Answer: BENGALI

D. Math Activity:
Answer: “A WHOLE NEW WORLD”

Lesson 2
6
A. 1) K
4

30
2) W
3

3
3) E
3

3
4) M
2
1
5) Z
2
15
6) A
5

5 3
7) A
3

Answer: KWEMZAA

2a
B. 1)
2

10c
2)
5

16
 15xy
3) 3y

10mnx
4)
2x

m 7y
5)
y2

a2b2 c
6)
c2
14xy
7)
2y 2

6y
8)
6

3x
9)
x
3
d
10)
2

C. Math Game
5
1) Z
5

6
2) U
4

15
3) A
9

5 3
4) S
3

14
5) N
7

2 15
6) G
3

7) 4 3 A
3
2
8) Z
2

3 7
9) B
10

17
 3 5
10) L
5
3
30
11) Y
6
7 5
12) I
5

Answer: A BUZZY SIGNAL

What have you learned

A. 1) 4 2
2) 5 2
3) 3 2
4) 2 7
5) 6 3

6) 5 5

7) 4 7
8) 5 7
9) 3 11
10) 12 2

B. 1) 33 2
2) 24 3
3) 25 3
4) 26 3
5) 6 7
6) 3y 5 11y

7) 7x 2 2
8)  2x 6 22
9)  9xy 5 2

10)  5x 4 y 5 2xy

C. 1) 4

18
2) 3
3) 7
4) 4
5) 3
2 6
6)
3
7) 2 x
2y 2 3
8)
3x
 1 3
9)   2


 

7 5 5
10)
44

19