Operations on Radical Expressions
Like terms are defined as terms that include the same variables, raised to the same powers. For example, 8x2 and −5x2 are like terms. Similarly, like radicals are radical expressions that include the same root and the same radicand.
- √7 and −3√7 are like radicals; they are both square root expressions that include the same radicand.
- ∛5 and 2∛35 are unlike radicals; they are both cube root expressions, but the radicands are not the same.
Can you predict how adding and subtracting like radicals may be similar to combining like terms?