RADICALS
Review of Introductory Mathematics
RADICALS
This chapter covers the addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of
radicals.
EO 1.15
CALCULATE the numerical value of numbers in
radical form.
Calculator Usage, Special Keys
The exponent key can be used for radicals if the exponent is entered in decimal form.
Exponent key
Raising a number to an exponent requires the yx key to be pressed twice. First,
the base number is entered and the yx key is pressed. This enters the base number
(y). Next, the exponent number is entered and the yx key is pressed. This enters
the exponent and tells the calculator to complete the calculation. The calculator
will display the value.
Square-root key
Pressing this key takes the square root of the displayed number.
The Radical
A previous chapter explained how to raise a number to a power. The inverse of this operation
is called extracting a root. For any positive integer n, a number x is the nth root of the number
a if it satisfies xn = a. For example, since 25 = 32, 2 is the fifth root of 32.
To indicate the nth root of a, the expression a1/n is often used. The symbol
is called the
radical sign, and the nth root of a can also be shown as
. The letter a is the radicand, and
n
a
n is the index. The index 2 is generally omitted for square roots.
Example:
4
2
3
27
3
MA-01
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