Question 700479
if only LIKE radicals can be added or subtracted; then why 5 square root of 3 + 2 square root of 12 can be simplified
:
{{{5sqrt(3) + 2sqrt(12)}}}
Factor inside the second radical to reveal a perfect square (4)
{{{5sqrt(3) + 2sqrt(4*3)}}}
Extract the square root of that perfect square (2)
{{{5sqrt(3) + 2*2sqrt(3)}}}
{{{5sqrt(3) + 4sqrt(3)}}}
Now we have like radicals that can be added, resulting in:
{{{9sqrt(3)}}}