Breaking Down the Radicand

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 54 views

Understanding the Problem

When dealing with square roots, it's essential to simplify the expression by factoring out perfect squares. This involves breaking down the radicand (the number inside the square root) into its prime factors and then grouping the factors in pairs of identical factors. The goal is to simplify the expression and make it easier to work with.

Breaking Down the Radicand

To simplify the given expression, we need to break down the radicand, which is $20 b^3 c^4$ . We can start by factoring out the greatest perfect square from the radicand.

Factoring Out Perfect Squares

The greatest perfect square that divides $20 b^3 c^4$ is $4 b^2 c^4$ . We can factor this out of the radicand as follows:

\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4} = \sqrt{4 b^2 c^4} \cdot \sqrt{5 b}

Simplifying the Expression

Now that we have factored out the perfect square, we can simplify the expression further. The square root of $4 b^2 c^4$ is simply $2 b c^2$ , since the square root of a perfect square is the number itself.

Final Simplification

Therefore, the simplified expression is:

\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4} = 2 b c^2 \sqrt{5 b}

Comparing with the Options

Now that we have simplified the expression, we can compare it with the given options to determine the correct answer.

Option A: $4 b c^2 \sqrt{5 b}$

This option is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $b$ in the numerator.

Option B: $4 b^2 c^2 \sqrt{5}$

This option is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $b^2$ in the numerator and an extra factor of $c^2$ in the numerator.

Option C: $2 b c \sqrt{5 b}$

This option is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $c$ in the numerator.

Option D: $2 b c^2 \sqrt{5 b}$

This option is correct because it matches the simplified expression we obtained earlier.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the correct answer is option D: $2 b c^2 \sqrt{5 b}$ . This is the simplified expression of $\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4}$ .

Tips and Tricks

When dealing with square roots, it's essential to factor out perfect squares and simplify the expression. This involves breaking down the radicand into its prime factors and grouping the factors in pairs of identical factors. By following these steps, you can simplify complex expressions and make them easier to work with.

Common Mistakes

One common mistake when dealing with square roots is to forget to factor out perfect squares. This can lead to incorrect simplifications and incorrect answers. To avoid this mistake, make sure to factor out perfect squares and simplify the expression carefully.

Real-World Applications

Simplifying square roots has many real-world applications, including physics, engineering, and computer science. In these fields, simplifying complex expressions is essential for solving problems and making calculations.

Practice Problems

Here are some practice problems to help you improve your skills in simplifying square roots:

Simplify $\sqrt{36 x^4 y^2}$
Simplify $\sqrt{49 a^3 b^4}$
Simplify $\sqrt{25 c^2 d^4}$

Solutions

$\sqrt{36 x^4 y^2} = 6 x^2 y \sqrt{x}$
$\sqrt{49 a^3 b^4} = 7 a b^2 \sqrt{a b}$
$\sqrt{25 c^2 d^4} = 5 c d^2 \sqrt{c d}$

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the greatest perfect square that divides $20 b^3 c^4$ ?

A: The greatest perfect square that divides $20 b^3 c^4$ is $4 b^2 c^4$ .

Q: How do I simplify the expression $\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4}$ ?

A: To simplify the expression, you need to factor out the greatest perfect square from the radicand. In this case, the greatest perfect square is $4 b^2 c^4$ . You can then simplify the expression further by taking the square root of the perfect square.

Q: What is the simplified expression of $\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4}$ ?

A: The simplified expression of $\sqrt{20 b^3 c^4}$ is $2 b c^2 \sqrt{5 b}$ .

Q: Why is option A incorrect?

A: Option A is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $b$ in the numerator.

Q: Why is option B incorrect?

A: Option B is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $b^2$ in the numerator and an extra factor of $c^2$ in the numerator.

Q: Why is option C incorrect?

A: Option C is incorrect because it has an extra factor of $c$ in the numerator.

Q: Why is option D correct?

A: Option D is correct because it matches the simplified expression we obtained earlier.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying square roots?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying square roots include forgetting to factor out perfect squares and not simplifying the expression carefully.

Q: What are some real-world applications of simplifying square roots?

A: Simplifying square roots has many real-world applications, including physics, engineering, and computer science. In these fields, simplifying complex expressions is essential for solving problems and making calculations.

Q: How can I practice simplifying square roots?

A: You can practice simplifying square roots by working on practice problems, such as simplifying $\sqrt{36 x^4 y^2}$ , $\sqrt{49 a^3 b^4}$ , and $\sqrt{25 c^2 d^4}$ .

Additional Resources

For more information on simplifying square roots, check out our article on Simplifying Square Roots.
For practice problems and solutions, check out our article on Practice Problems.
For real-world applications of simplifying square roots, check out our article on Real-World Applications.