Adding and subtracting radicals

The  exercise appears under the Pre-algebra Math Mission. This exercise performs addition and subtraction in the world of radicals.

Types of Problems
There is one type of problem in this exercise:


 * 1) Add or subtract the radicals: This problem requires the student to simplify radicals and then combine them correctly. The student provides the answer in the radical manipulative where the number outside the radical and inside are provided separately.

Strategies
Experience with radicals would ensure success on this exercise, but if one can remember to only combine like radicals it can be performed accurately and efficiently.
 * 1) If one finds the factor tree of the number in the square root, pairs escape the square root and singles will remain. Numbers that meet up on the outside or inside are multiplied.
 * 2) The radicals must be identical to be combined.
 * 3) The manipulative may be left blank or provided a one if there is no number needed in one of the spaces.

Real-life Applications

 * 1) Square roots come up in the quadratic formula which models many physical situations, such as acceleration due to gravity.
 * 2) Square roots come up in applications of the Pythagorean Theorem which leads to trigonometry.