Adding and Subtracting Radicals

A radical is an expression that includes a root, such as a square root (√) or cube root (∛).

You can add radicals with the same index and radicand by adding their coefficients. For example, (3√6) + (4√6) = (3+4)√6 = 7√6.

The result is -6√7.

√25 simplifies to 5.

The sum is 6√5.

To simplify a radical expression means to express it in its simplest form, removing any perfect squares or cubes from under the radical.

Like radicals have the same radicand and index, while unlike radicals do not. For example, 3√2 and 5√2 are like radicals, but 3√2 and 4√3 are unlike.

You cannot combine unlike radicals directly. You can only simplify or express them separately.

2√20 simplifies to 8√5.

The product is √(a*b).