SOLUTION: alright my question is how do you simplify square roots? i have read over and over again and even wrote down the directions and brought them home to try to understand and i still d

Algebra ->  Algebra  -> Square-cubic-other-roots -> SOLUTION: alright my question is how do you simplify square roots? i have read over and over again and even wrote down the directions and brought them home to try to understand and i still d      Log On

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Question 10165: alright my question is how do you simplify square roots? i have read over and over again and even wrote down the directions and brought them home to try to understand and i still dont get it. i have 8 problems and i can not seem to solve.. how do you simplify the square root of 98? just dont get it. if you can help me please do...

thanks,
Lindsey Sashae'*
Answer by Earlsdon(6103) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
The key to simplifying square roots is to factor the number under the radical and, if there are any squares, factor these out by taking their square roots, leaving the non-square numbers under the radical.
Simplify:
sqrt%2898%29 Factor 98.
sqrt%282%2A7%2A7%29 = sqrt%282%2A7%5E2%29 Now sqrt%287%5E2%29+=+7 so factor out the 7^2 as just 7 leaving the 2 under the radical since 2 is not a perfect square.
sqrt%2898%29 = 7sqrt%282%29