Operations on Radical Expressions

Like terms the square root of 7 and negative three square roots of y; unlike terms square root of five and two square roots of fortyThink IconLike 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?