Chapter 5: Problem 39
Change each radical to simplest radical form. \(\sqrt{\frac{19}{4}}\)
Short Answer
Expert verified
\(\frac{\sqrt{19}}{2}\)
Step by step solution
01
Identify the components inside the square root
We start with the expression \(\sqrt{\frac{19}{4}}\). This is a square root of a fraction, where the numerator is 19 and the denominator is 4.
02
Separate the square root of the fraction
Recall the property of radicals that \(\sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}}\). Apply it here to separate the square root into two parts: \(\sqrt{19}\) and \(\sqrt{4}\).
03
Simplify each radical separately
Calculate the square roots: \(\sqrt{4} = 2\) because 4 is a perfect square. \(\sqrt{19}\) cannot be simplified further as 19 is a prime number.
04
Write in simplest radical form
Combine the results from Step 3: \(\frac{\sqrt{19}}{2}\). No further simplification is possible, so this is the final simplest radical form.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Square Root Concept
The square root is a fundamental concept in mathematics. It refers to a value that, when multiplied by itself, results in the original number. For example, the square root of 9 is 3, because 3 times 3 equals 9. When dealing with square roots, you are often looking for a number that can evenly multiply to give a perfect square. To understand square roots better, here are a few helpful points:
- The symbol used for square root is \(\sqrt{}\).
- Perfect squares are numbers like 1, 4, 9, 16, and so on, whose square roots are whole numbers.
- For non-perfect squares, the square root will result in an irrational number, meaning it cannot be expressed as a simple fraction.
Simplifying Radicals
Simplifying radicals is the process of transforming a complicated square root expression into a simpler or more manageable one. This is often necessary for efficient calculation and understanding.To simplify radicals:
- Firstly, determine if the number is a perfect square. If it is, like 4 or 16, it can be completely simplified into an integer (2 for 4, 4 for 16).
- If the number isn’t a perfect square, like 19, you'll express it in its simplest radical form as \(\sqrt{19}\).
- In some cases, you might need to split the radical expression using the property \(\sqrt{ab} = \sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b}\) to simplify individual parts.
Fractions and Radicals
Fractions involving radicals can seem intimidating at first, but breaking them down into smaller parts makes them more manageable. Consider the fraction \(\sqrt{\frac{a}{b}}\). To simplify this:
- Use the property \(\sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}}\) to separate the fraction into two individual radicals.
- Simplify each radical separately if possible. For example, in \(\sqrt{\frac{19}{4}}\), \(\sqrt{4}\) becomes 2.
- Combine these results to form a simplified expression, like \(\frac{\sqrt{19}}{2}\).