Question

Given radical a and radical b are in simplest radical form and radical a timed radical b equals c radical d and c radical d is in simplest form. Explain in words how c and d are related to a and b. Then give an example to support your solution.

Answer 1

See below.

Explanation:

Since sqrt(a) and sqrt(b) are in simplest radical form, that means a and b have no perfect square factors. When sqrt(a) and sqrt(b) are multiplied giving c * sqrt(d), the fact that c came out of the root means that there was c^2 inside the product sqrt(ab). This means that a and b have at least one common factor.

ab = c^2d

Example:

Let a = 6 and let b = 10.

sqrt(6) and sqrt(10) are in simplest radical form.

Now we multiply the radicals.

sqrt(a) * sqrt(b) = sqrt(6) * sqrt(10) = sqrt(60) = sqrt(4 * 15) = 2sqrt(15)

We have c = 2 and d = 15.

ab = c^2d

6 * 10 = 2^2 * 15

60 = 60

Our relationship between a, b and c, d works.