Operations with Radical Expressions

Topics for Today:

Radicals have some similar properties as variables when we manage them in equations and expressions.  Just like variables, we can only combine radicals that are like each other.  When we combine or take away (add or subtract) radicals, we may only do so if our radicals are like each other.

We can only combine like radicals, and sometimes we need to simplify first, and then we may have like radicals that we can combine.  

The distributive property also works with radicals, including double distributing (otherwise known as FOIL).  

Finally, we discussed how to manage fractions that have binomials in the denominator that contain radicals.  We can multiply by the conjugate, which results in the difference of squares and the removal of the radical.   (*We did not get to this concept today - we will tackle it on Monday.)

Vocabulary: like radicals, unlike radicals, conjugate 

Sections Covered in Textbook:

11-4: Operations with Radical Expressions (pages 600-606)

Resources & Tutorials:

1) How to add radicals together with like radicands?
2) How do you subtract radicals with like radicands? 
3) How do you subtract radicals with different radicands? 
4) How to use the distributive property with radicals?
5) How to "FOIL" with radicals
6) Divide by Conjugate Method (will do on Monday)

7) Class Notes on Operations with Radical Expressions

Assignments:

1) Operations with Radical Expressions (no conjugates)