This means Square root (^1/2). this is kind of hard to read. anyways. 32^(1/2) separates into 4^(1/2) and 8^(1/2), which further separates into 4^(1/2) and 2^(1/2), root 4 becomes 2, their are two root 4's, so you get 2 x 2, and you are left with 2^(1/2) now why go to all this trouble. because now you can multiply the 4 you created (2x2) times, the 7... giving you 28*2^(1/2) now subtract it from the the other one with root 2. -5*2^(1/2), giving you 23*2^(1/2)-...idk what that last bit is. if its a odd number then this is the end of the problem, if you can get it to root 2. then do that and simplify.