Subtract the following terms, if possible.

Question

squareroot 50x - squareroot18x

Select the correct choice below and, if necessary, fill in the answer box to complete your choice.

A. 50x -118x = blank (Please type an exact answer, using radicals as needed.)
B. The radicals cannot be combined.

Answer 1

To subtract the terms \(\sqrt{50x}\) and \(\sqrt{18x}\), we first simplify each radical.

1. Simplifying \(\sqrt{50x}\): \[ \sqrt{50x} = \sqrt{25 \cdot 2 \cdot x} = \sqrt{25} \cdot \sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{x} = 5\sqrt{2x} \]

2. Simplifying \(\sqrt{18x}\): \[ \sqrt{18x} = \sqrt{9 \cdot 2 \cdot x} = \sqrt{9} \cdot \sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{x} = 3\sqrt{2x} \]

Now we subtract the two simplified terms: \[ \sqrt{50x} - \sqrt{18x} = 5\sqrt{2x} - 3\sqrt{2x} \] This can be combined since they are like terms: \[ (5 - 3)\sqrt{2x} = 2\sqrt{2x} \]

Therefore, the answer is: \[ \boxed{2\sqrt{2x}} \]

So, the correct choice is:

A. \( 2\sqrt{2x} \) (Please type an exact answer using radicals as needed.)