Question 199931
why 2√2 is in simplest form but √8 is not in simplest form.
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8 can be factored into 4 times 2, the the sqrt(4) removed from the radical.  No further reduction of sqrt(2) is possible.
This can make a difference when the term is part of a more complex expression, for example:
sqrt(12)/sqrt(8)
By "simplifying" further, you get 2sqrt(3)/2sqrt(2) = sqrt(3)/sqrt(2).