Algebra: Rational & Irrational Numbers Unit test:

Question

Explain why it is sometimes necessary to express square roots in their simplest radical form. Then, explain the process of rewriting a square root in its simplest radical form. In 1 sentence.

Answer 1

Expressing square roots in their simplest radical form is necessary for clarity and ease of calculations, and the process involves factoring the number under the square root into its prime factors, extracting pairs of factors to simplify, and rewriting the square root as the product of the square root of the extracted perfect square and any remaining factors.