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9.7 Higher Roots

Elementary Algebra 2e 9 Roots and Radicals 9.7 Higher Roots

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Simplify expressions with higher roots
Use the Product Property to simplify expressions with higher roots
Use the Quotient Property to simplify expressions with higher roots
Add and subtract higher roots

Be Prepared 9.18

Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

Simplify: y⁵y⁴.
If you missed this problem, review Example 6.18.

Be Prepared 9.19

Simplify: (n²)6.
If you missed this problem, review Example 6.22.

Be Prepared 9.20

Simplify: x⁸x³.
If you missed this problem, review Example 6.59.

Simplify Expressions with Higher Roots

Up to now, in this chapter we have worked with squares and square roots. We will now extend our work to include higher powers and higher roots.

Let’s review some vocabulary first.

The terms ‘squared’ and ‘cubed’ come from the formulas for area of a square and volume of a cube.

It will be helpful to have a table of the powers of the integers from −5to5. See Figure 9.4.

This figure consists of two tables. The first table shows the results of raising the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, x, and x squared to the second, third, fourth, and fifth powers. The second table shows the results of raising the numbers negative one through negative five to the second, third, fourth, and fifth powers. The table first has five columns and nine rows. The second has five columns and seven rows. The columns in both tables are labeled, “Number,” “Square,” “Cube,” “Fourth power,” “Fifth power,” nothing, “Number,” “Square,” “Cube,” “Fourth power,” and “Fifth power.” In both tables, the next row reads: n, n squared, n cubed, n to the fourth power, n to the fifth power, nothing, n, n squared, n cubed, n to the fourth power, and n to the fifth power. In the first table, 1 squared, 1 cubed, 1 to the fourth power, and 1 to the fifth power are all shown to be 1. In the next row, 2 squared is 4, 2 cubed is 8, 2 to the fourth power is 16, and 2 to the fifth power is 32. In the next row, 3 squared is 9, 3 cubed is 27, 3 to the fourth power is 81, and 3 to the fifth power is 243. In the next row, 4 squared is 16, 4 cubed is 64, 4 to the fourth power is 246, and 4 to the fifth power is 1024. In the next row, 5 squared is 25, 5 cubed is 125, 5 to the fourth power is 625, and 5 to the fifth power is 3125. In the next row, x squared, x cubed, x to the fourth power, and x to the fifth power are listed. In the next row, x squared squared is x to the fourth power, x cubed squared is x to the fifth power, x squared to the fourth power is x to the eighth power, and x squared to the fifth power is x to the tenth power. In the second table, negative 1 squared is 1, negative 1 cubed is negative 1, negative 1 to the fourth power is 1, and negative 1 to the fifth power is negative 1. In the next row, negative 2 squared is 4, negative 2 cubed is negative 8, negative 2 to the fourth power is 16, and negative 2 to the fifth power is negative 32. In the next row, negative 4 squared is 16, negative 4 cubed is negative 64, negative 4 to the fourth power is 256, and negative 4 to the fifth power is negative 1024. In the next row, negative 5 squared is 25, negative 5 cubed is negative 125, negative 5 to the fourth power is 625, and negative 5 to the fifth power is negative 3125. — Figure 9.4 First through fifth powers of integers from −5 to 5.

Notice the signs in Figure 9.4. All powers of positive numbers are positive, of course. But when we have a negative number, the even powers are positive and the odd powers are negative. We’ll copy the row with the powers of −2 below to help you see this.

Earlier in this chapter we defined the square root of a number.

And we have used the notation√m to denote the principal square root. So √m ≥0 always.

We will now extend the definition to higher roots.

We do not write the index for a square root. Just like we use the word ‘cubed’ for b3, we use the term ‘cube root’ for ³√ a .

We refer to Figure 9.4 to help us find higher roots.

Could we have an even root of a negative number? No. We know that the square root of a negative number is not a real number. The same is true for any even root. Even roots of negative numbers are not real numbers. Odd roots of negative numbers are real numbers.

When we worked with square roots that had variables in the radicand, we restricted the variables to non-negative values. Now we will remove this restriction.

The odd root of a number can be either positive or negative. We have seen that³√−64=−4.

But the even root of a non-negative number is always non-negative, because we take the principal nth root.

Suppose we start with a=−5.

How can we make sure the fourth root of −5 raised to the fourth power, (−5)⁴ is 5? We will see in the following property.

Use the Product Property to Simplify Expressions with Higher Roots

We will simplify expressions with higher roots in much the same way as we simplified expressions with square roots. An nth root is considered simplified if it has no factors of mⁿ.

Simplified nth Root

ⁿ√a is considered simplified if a has no factors of mⁿ

We will generalize the Product Property of Square Roots to include any integer root n≥2.

Don’t forget to use the absolute value signs when taking an even root of an expression with a variable in the radical.

Use the Quotient Property to Simplify Expressions with Higher Roots

We can simplify higher roots with quotients in the same way we simplified square roots. First we simplify any fractions inside the radical.

Previously, we used the Quotient Property ‘in reverse’ to simplify square roots. Now we will generalize the formula to include higher roots.

If the fraction inside the radical cannot be simplified, we use the first form of the Quotient Property to rewrite the expression as the quotient of two radicals.

Add and Subtract Higher Roots

We can add and subtract higher roots like we added and subtracted square roots. First we provide a formal definition of like radicals.

Like Radicals

Radicals with the same index and same radicand are called like radicals.

Like radicals have the same index and the same radicand.

When an expression does not appear to have like radicals, we will simplify each radical first. Sometimes this leads to an expression with like radicals.

Media

Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with simplifying higher roots.

Simplifying Higher Roots
Add/Subtract Roots with Higher Indices