Worked examples
Two examples
Example 1
Simplify: √50
- The largest perfect square that goes into 50 is 25: 50 = 25 × 2.
- √25 = 5, and the 2 stays under the root.
Answer: 5√2
Example 2
Simplify: √72
- The largest perfect square that goes into 72 is 36: 72 = 36 × 2.
- √36 = 6.
Answer: 6√2
Where this is taught: Quiz 30: Square and Cube Roots, “When the root is not a whole number”
The drill
Ten problems
How many:
Type a square root like 5 root 2 or 5 sqrt 2 (or 5√2 if your keyboard has it). Then press Check my answers at the bottom.Write each answer on the line, in simplest form. The answer key, with the reasoning, is on the last page.