Not factoring the number inside the radical sign

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 15 views

Understanding Radicals

Radicals are mathematical expressions that involve the square root of a number. They are commonly denoted by the symbol √. In this article, we will focus on simplifying radicals, specifically the expression $-\sqrt{63}$ .

What is a Radical?

A radical is a mathematical expression that involves the square root of a number. It is denoted by the symbol √. For example, √4 = 2, √9 = 3, and √16 = 4. Radicals can be positive or negative, and they can be simplified using various techniques.

Simplifying Radicals

Simplifying radicals involves expressing them in their simplest form. This can be done by factoring the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors. For example, √12 can be simplified as √(4 × 3) = √4 × √3 = 2√3.

Simplifying $-\sqrt{63}$

To simplify $-\sqrt{63}$ , we need to factor 63 into its prime factors. 63 can be factored as 7 × 9. Since 9 is a perfect square (3^2), we can simplify the expression as $-\sqrt{7 × 9} = -\sqrt{7 × 3^2} = -3\sqrt{7}$ .

Why is the Answer $-3\sqrt{7}$ ?

The answer $-3\sqrt{7}$ is correct because we simplified the expression $-\sqrt{63}$ by factoring 63 into its prime factors. We then simplified the expression by taking the square root of 9 (which is 3) outside of the radical sign, leaving us with $-3\sqrt{7}$ .

Conclusion

Simplifying radicals involves expressing them in their simplest form. This can be done by factoring the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors. In this article, we simplified the expression $-\sqrt{63}$ by factoring 63 into its prime factors and then simplifying the expression by taking the square root of 9 outside of the radical sign. The correct answer is $-3\sqrt{7}$ .

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When simplifying radicals, it's essential to avoid common mistakes. Here are a few:

Not factoring the number inside the radical sign: Failing to factor the number inside the radical sign can lead to incorrect simplifications.
Not taking the square root of perfect squares: Failing to take the square root of perfect squares can lead to incorrect simplifications.
Not simplifying the expression correctly: Failing to simplify the expression correctly can lead to incorrect answers.

Tips and Tricks

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you simplify radicals:

Use prime factorization: Prime factorization is a powerful tool for simplifying radicals. By factoring the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors, you can simplify the expression.
Take the square root of perfect squares: Perfect squares are numbers that can be expressed as the square of an integer. Taking the square root of perfect squares can help you simplify the expression.
Simplify the expression correctly: Simplifying the expression correctly is crucial. Make sure to take the square root of perfect squares and simplify the expression correctly.

Practice Problems

Here are a few practice problems to help you practice simplifying radicals:

Simplify $\sqrt{48}$ : $\sqrt{48} = \sqrt{16 × 3} = \sqrt{16} × \sqrt{3} = 4\sqrt{3}$
Simplify $\sqrt{75}$ : $\sqrt{75} = \sqrt{25 × 3} = \sqrt{25} × \sqrt{3} = 5\sqrt{3}$
Simplify $\sqrt{108}$ : $\sqrt{108} = \sqrt{36 × 3} = \sqrt{36} × \sqrt{3} = 6\sqrt{3}$

Conclusion

$Simplifying radicals involves expressing them in their simplest form. This can be done by factoring the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors. In this article, we simplified the expression $-\sqrt{63}$ by factoring 63 into its prime factors and then simplifying the expression by taking the square root of 9 outside of the radical sign. The correct answer is $-3\sqrt{7}$.<br/> **Simplifying Radicals: A Q&A Guide**$

Q: What is a radical?

A: A radical is a mathematical expression that involves the square root of a number. It is denoted by the symbol √. For example, √4 = 2, √9 = 3, and √16 = 4.

Q: How do I simplify a radical?

A: To simplify a radical, you need to factor the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors. Then, you can take the square root of perfect squares and simplify the expression.

Q: What is prime factorization?

A: Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a number into its prime factors. For example, the prime factorization of 12 is 2 × 2 × 3.

Q: How do I use prime factorization to simplify a radical?

A: To use prime factorization to simplify a radical, you need to factor the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors. Then, you can take the square root of perfect squares and simplify the expression.

Q: What is a perfect square?

A: A perfect square is a number that can be expressed as the square of an integer. For example, 4 is a perfect square because it can be expressed as 2^2.

Q: How do I take the square root of a perfect square?

A: To take the square root of a perfect square, you simply take the square root of the integer. For example, the square root of 4 is 2.

Q: Can I simplify a radical with a negative number inside the radical sign?

A: Yes, you can simplify a radical with a negative number inside the radical sign. To do this, you need to factor the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors and then take the square root of perfect squares.

Q: How do I simplify a radical with a negative number inside the radical sign?

A: To simplify a radical with a negative number inside the radical sign, you need to factor the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors and then take the square root of perfect squares. For example, $-\sqrt{63}$ can be simplified as $-3\sqrt{7}$ .

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

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying radicals include:

Not factoring the number inside the radical sign
Not taking the square root of perfect squares
Not simplifying the expression correctly

Q: How can I practice simplifying radicals?

A: You can practice simplifying radicals by working on practice problems. Here are a few examples:

Simplify $\sqrt{48}$ : $\sqrt{48} = \sqrt{16 × 3} = \sqrt{16} × \sqrt{3} = 4\sqrt{3}$
Simplify $\sqrt{75}$ : $\sqrt{75} = \sqrt{25 × 3} = \sqrt{25} × \sqrt{3} = 5\sqrt{3}$
Simplify $\sqrt{108}$ : $\sqrt{108} = \sqrt{36 × 3} = \sqrt{36} × \sqrt{3} = 6\sqrt{3}$

Q: What are some tips and tricks for simplifying radicals?

A: Some tips and tricks for simplifying radicals include:

Use prime factorization to simplify radicals
Take the square root of perfect squares
Simplify the expression correctly

Conclusion

Simplifying radicals involves expressing them in their simplest form. This can be done by factoring the number inside the radical sign into its prime factors and then taking the square root of perfect squares. In this article, we answered some common questions about simplifying radicals and provided some tips and tricks for simplifying radicals.