Simplifying √72

Algebra 1 · Axiom Academy

Simplify by pulling out the largest perfect-square factor. Simplify the radical completely. A radical is in simplest form when the number under it has no perfect-square factor other than 1 . Nice work — you simplified to using the perfect-square method. The recipe works for any radical: List the factors: write out the factors of the number under the radical. Find the perfect squares: spot the factors that are perfect squares ( ). Take the largest: using the biggest perfect-square factor simplifies it in one step. Split and simplify: lets you pull the perfect square out as a whole number. Check it's done: the number left under the radical should have no perfect-square factor but 1 . Practice the same method on , , or to lock it in.

This is the written version of the interactive lesson above. See the full Algebra 1 course.