SOLUTION: Please help me solve this equation: sqrt(8) + sqrt(12) + sqrt(18)

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Question 870479: Please help me solve this equation: sqrt(8) + sqrt(12) + sqrt(18)
Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, jim_thompson5910:
Answer by Alan3354(69443) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
What equation?
Equations have equal signs.
---
equal, equate, equation

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I'm assuming you want to simplify this expression.


First we simplify each radical.
You do so by factoring them into two numbers where one of the numbers is a perfect square (the largest possible that's a factor).
Then you break up the root and simplify (as shown below)


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sqrt%288%29=sqrt%284%2A2%29


sqrt%288%29=sqrt%284%29%2Asqrt%282%29


sqrt%288%29=2%2Asqrt%282%29


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sqrt%2812%29=sqrt%284%2A3%29


sqrt%2812%29=sqrt%284%29%2Asqrt%283%29


sqrt%2812%29=2%2Asqrt%283%29


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sqrt%2818%29=sqrt%289%2A2%29


sqrt%2818%29=sqrt%289%29%2Asqrt%282%29


sqrt%2818%29=3%2Asqrt%282%29


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Then you use those simplifications like so


sqrt%288%29+%2B+sqrt%2812%29+%2B+sqrt%2818%29


2%2Asqrt%282%29+%2B+2%2Asqrt%283%29+%2B+3%2Asqrt%282%29 Replace with simplified radicals (see above)


%282%2Asqrt%282%29+%2B+3%2Asqrt%282%29%29+%2B+2%2Asqrt%283%29 Collect/group like terms


%282+%2B+3%29%2Asqrt%282%29+%2B+2%2Asqrt%283%29 Factor out the GCF from that first group


%285%29%2Asqrt%282%29+%2B+2%2Asqrt%283%29 Add


5%2Asqrt%282%29+%2B+2%2Asqrt%283%29 Remove parenthesis


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So,