SOLUTION: How is adding radical expressions similar to adding polynomial expressions?

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: How is adding radical expressions similar to adding polynomial expressions?      Log On


   

Question 126166: How is adding radical expressions similar to adding polynomial expressions?
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Let's say you had the radical expression

3%2Asqrt%282%29%2B4%2Asqrt%282%29


Notice how we have the common term sqrt%282%29. So we can combine like terms

sqrt%282%29%283%2B4%29 Factor out the common term sqrt%282%29


sqrt%282%29%287%29 Add


7%2Asqrt%282%29 Rearrange the terms


---------------------

This is the same as something like

3x%2B4x


which is the sum of two polynomials (namely 3x and 4x)


x%283%2B4%29 Factor out the common term x


x%287%29 Add


7x Rearrange the terms



Notice how we followed the same steps in both examples. So this shows that adding radicals and polynomials have a lot of similarities.