SOLUTION: how do you simplify radical expresions? are there certain rules to follow for each of the numbers? how do you you work a problem such as - (check) 20 + 2 (check) 18 ?

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Question 461045: how do you simplify radical expresions? are there certain rules to follow for each of the numbers? how do you you work a problem such as - (check) 20 + 2 (check) 18 ?
Answer by richard1234(7193) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Denote the square root by sqrt(x), "check" is too ambiguous.

To simplify square roots, you have to factor perfect squares out. To factor

,

we see that the largest perfect square divisor of 20 is 4, and for 18, it is 9. So,



Now we split the 4 and the 5, as well as the 9 and the 2.