Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 04:19:48 -0600 (CST)
Subject: radicals

Name: Randy

Who is asking: Student
Level: All

Question:
Find the perimeter of a rectangle in simplified radical form L=root80 W=root45. I would appreciate a detailed explination of the process for solving.

Thanks Randy

Hi Randy
Here is a similar problem that is not the same as your homework. Find the perimeter of a rectangle with L=root75 and W=root27. Since the figure is a rectangle its perimeter is 2(L + W) which is

.

Radicals behave like algebraic terms and fractions and you can only add like terms so you can't directly add the radicals in this expression. The secret here is to see 75 as the product of a perfect square and another factor, that is 75 = 25 x 3. Thus

.

Likewise
.

Thus

Cheers
Jack and Penny

Go to Math Central

To return to the previous page use your browser's back button.