Chapter 7: Problem 56
Simplify. See Examples 3 and 4 $$ \sqrt{12 r^{9} s^{12}} $$
Short Answer
Expert verified
The expression simplifies to \( 2r^4s^6\sqrt{3r} \).
Step by step solution
01
Prime Factorization of 12
To simplify the expression, we start by simplifying the square root of 12. First, we express 12 as a product of its prime factors: \( 12 = 2^2 \times 3 \). This will help us find the square root.
02
Split the Radicand
Next, split the original expression inside the square root as separate components: \( \sqrt{12 r^9 s^{12}} = \sqrt{2^2 \times 3 \times r^9 \times s^{12}} \). Now, consider each factor separately.
03
Simplify Square Root of Numbers
Take the square root of the numerical part inside the square root: \( \sqrt{2^2 \times 3} = 2\sqrt{3} \), because the square root of \( 2^2 \) is 2, and 3 stays under the square root.
04
Simplify Variables with Even Powers
Apply the square root to \( s^{12} \): Since the exponent is even, \( \sqrt{s^{12}} = s^6 \). This is because \( s^{12} = (s^6)^2 \), and the square root of \( (s^6)^2 \) is \( s^6 \).
05
Simplify Variables with Odd Powers
Deal with \( r^9 \): Since 9 is odd, express \( r^9 = r^8 \times r \) where \( r^8 = (r^4)^2 \). The square root of \( r^8 \) is \( r^4 \), thus, \( \sqrt{r^9} = r^4 \sqrt{r} \).
06
Combine All Simplified Components
Combine all parts together: \( \sqrt{12 r^9 s^{12}} = 2 r^4 s^6 \sqrt{3r} \). Therefore, the expression is simplified successfully.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Prime Factorization
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a composite number into its prime number components. A prime number is a number greater than one that has no divisors besides one and itself.
To simplify a square root, like the square root of 12, we first find the prime factorization of 12.
To simplify a square root, like the square root of 12, we first find the prime factorization of 12.
- Start by dividing 12 by the smallest prime number, which is 2. We get 12 = 2 × 6.
- Keep dividing by 2 until you can no longer divide evenly. So, 6 can be divided by 2 to get 3. Now, 12 is expressed as 2 × 2 × 3.
- This translates to 12 = 2² × 3 in terms of prime factors.
Square Root Properties
Understanding the properties of square roots is essential when simplifying expressions. A square root surrounds a number or a variable, and the goal is to simplify it by extracting perfect squares.
Here are some basic properties:
Here are some basic properties:
- The square root of a product can be split into the product of square roots: \( \sqrt{ab} = \sqrt{a}\sqrt{b} \).
- The square root of a square is the original number: \( \sqrt{a^2} = a\).
- If a factor inside a square root is a perfect square, you can take it out of the square root.
Simplifying Variable Expressions
When simplifying expressions that include variables under a square root, it's important to consider the exponents of the variables.
Here's how you simplify based on the exponent's parity:
Here's how you simplify based on the exponent's parity:
- If the exponent is even, you can fully take that variable out of the square root. For example, \( \sqrt{s^{12}} = s^6 \) since \( s^{12} = (s^6)^2 \).
- If the exponent is odd, separate it into an even part and a leftover 1. For example, \( r^9 = r^8 \times r = (r^4)^2 \times r \), and hence \( \sqrt{r^9} = r^4\sqrt{r} \).
Mathematical Expressions
A mathematical expression consists of numbers, variables, and different operations. Understanding how to simplify such expressions is key for solving problems efficiently.
Mathematical expressions often involve:
Mathematical expressions often involve:
- Numbers, as coefficients or standalone integers.
- Variables, which stand for unspecified numbers.
- Operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division.