document.write( "Question 702610: how to leave answers as a number and radical when you solver for x on a similar triangles
\n" ); document.write( "why do you leave answers as a radical
\n" ); document.write( "and how do you know what numbers to write \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #433075 by math-vortex(648) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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document.write( "Hi, there--\r\n" );
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document.write( "You leave answers as a radical when the problem says \"give an exact answer,\" or \"do not \r\n" );
document.write( "simplify.\"\r\n" );
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document.write( "You write the answer as a number (usually a decimal) when the problem asks you for an \r\n" );
document.write( "approximation, or when you are working on a real-word problem and you need a \r\n" );
document.write( "measurement.\r\n" );
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document.write( "WHY?\r\n" );
document.write( "By definition, radicals are irrational unless the number under the radical is a perfect square. \r\n" );
document.write( "This means that they cannot be written as an equivalent fraction or decimal.\r\n" );
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document.write( "For example,  cannot be written as an exact whole number, fraction, or decimal. \r\n" );
document.write( "There is no decimal number you can multiply by itself to get 27.\r\n" );
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document.write( "When you want an exact answer, you need to stop there; the  is exactly .\r\n" );
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document.write( "Sometimes, that's not very useful.  For example, If I say that the doorway is exactly \r\n" );
document.write( " feet high, that doesn't tell you much. A measuring tape does not have square \r\n" );
document.write( "roots on it. In this case, we would want an approximation.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The  is about 5.2 feet. You can get a decimal approximation for square roots by using your calculator.\r\n" );
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document.write( "You can also say which two whole numbers the square root is between. Here's how that works:\r\n" );
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document.write( "The perfect square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, and so on.\r\n" );
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document.write( "The number  is between 5 and 6 because 27 is between the perfect squares 25 \r\n" );
document.write( "and 36.\r\n" );
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document.write( "I hope this helps. Feel free to email me if you have questions about this. I can explain further.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Mrs.Figgy\r\n" );
document.write( "math.in.the.vortex@gmail.com\r\n" );
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