SOLUTION: What is the answer to -3 on the outside of the square root of 120?

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: What is the answer to -3 on the outside of the square root of 120?      Log On


   

Question 68801This question is from textbook Algebra 1
: What is the answer to -3 on the outside of the square root of 120? This question is from textbook Algebra 1

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Well if you're looking to simplify the expression you should find the perfect squares that are also factors of 120. The only perfect square that will work is 4, so -3%2Asqrt%28120%29 can be written as -3%2Asqrt%284%2A30%29.
Since a square root of a product is a product of square roots, (ie. sqrt%28xy%29=sqrt%28x%29%2Asqrt%28y%29), the expression then becomes -3%2Asqrt%284%29%2Asqrt%2830%29
Since 4 is a perfect square, the square root is 2, the expression becomes

-3%2A2%2Asqrt%2830%29.
Further simplication leaves the answer
-6%2Asqrt%2830%29.