SOLUTION: How do you add and subtract square roots when the square roots are not the same number?

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Question 381510: How do you add and subtract square roots when the square roots are not the same number?
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
You see if you can reduce them to have the same root.
Example:
sqrt%285%29%2B5%2Asqrt%2845%29=sqrt%285%29%2B5%2Asqrt%289%2A5%29
sqrt%285%29%2B5%2Asqrt%2845%29=sqrt%285%29%2B5%2A3%2Asqrt%285%29
sqrt%285%29%2B5%2Asqrt%2845%29=16%2Asqrt%285%29
If not then you can make them have the same root by multiplying numerator and denominator by the same number.


sqrt%282%29%2Bsqrt%287%29=sqrt%2814%29%281%2Fsqrt%287%29%2B1%2Fsqrt%282%29%29
sqrt%282%29%2Bsqrt%287%29=sqrt%2814%29%28sqrt%287%29%2F7%2Bsqrt%282%29%2F2%29
But, as you see, the answer isn't always any simpler.