## ASVAB Arithmetic Reasoning Operations on Radicals Practice Test 406485

#### Study Guide

To add or subtract radicals, the degree and radicand must be the same. For example, $$2\sqrt{3} + 3\sqrt{3} = 5\sqrt{3}$$ but $$2\sqrt{2} + 2\sqrt{3}$$ cannot be added because they have different radicands.

To multiply or divide radicals, multiply or divide the coefficients and radicands separately: $$x\sqrt{a} \times y\sqrt{b} = xy\sqrt{ab}$$ and $${x\sqrt{a} \over y\sqrt{b}} = {x \over y}\sqrt{a \over b}$$
The radicand of a simplified radical has no perfect square factors. A perfect square is the product of a number multiplied by itself (squared). To simplify a radical, factor out the perfect squares by recognizing that $$\sqrt{a^2} = a$$. For example, $$\sqrt{64} = \sqrt{16 \times 4} = \sqrt{4^2 \times 2^2} = 4 \times 2 = 8$$.
To take the square root of a fraction, break the fraction into two separate roots then calculate the square root of the numerator and denominator separately. For example, $$\sqrt{9 \over 16}$$ = $${\sqrt{9}} \over {\sqrt{16}}$$ = $${3 \over 4}$$