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Ch. R - Review of Basic Concepts
Lial - College Algebra 13th Edition
Lial13th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136881063Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 1, Problem 59

Use the rules for radicals to perform the indicated operations. Assume all variable expressions represent positive real numbers. √9/25

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1
Recognize that the expression \( \sqrt{\frac{9}{25}} \) is a square root of a fraction.
Use the property of radicals that states \( \sqrt{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt{a}}{\sqrt{b}} \) to rewrite the expression as \( \frac{\sqrt{9}}{\sqrt{25}} \).
Calculate the square root of the numerator: \( \sqrt{9} \). Since 9 is a perfect square, this simplifies to 3.
Calculate the square root of the denominator: \( \sqrt{25} \). Since 25 is a perfect square, this simplifies to 5.
Write the simplified expression as \( \frac{3}{5} \), which is the simplified form of the original radical expression.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Properties of Radicals

Radicals represent roots, such as square roots, and follow specific properties like √(a/b) = √a / √b. Understanding these properties allows simplification of expressions involving roots by separating numerators and denominators.
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Simplifying Square Roots

Simplifying square roots involves finding perfect squares within the radicand and extracting them. For example, √9 = 3 and √25 = 5, which helps reduce the expression to a simpler form.
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Assumption of Positive Real Numbers

Assuming variables represent positive real numbers ensures that the principal (non-negative) root is considered. This avoids ambiguity in root values and allows direct application of radical rules without considering negative roots.
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