Simplifying Radicals?

[Donna YoungBill McCallum]

Please comment on whether students should be able to simplify $\sqrt{18}$ to $3\sqrt{2}$, etc.  Many people feel that this is an essential skill for students who have completed an algebra course.  For dealing with quadratic functions, different forms of the function reveal different interesting aspects of the function.  I’m not sure if there is some similar reason to have $3\sqrt{2}$ vs. $\sqrt{18}$.  However, many people with whom I interact are very dismayed that simplifying radicals doesn’t seem to be in CCSSM.

Thanks for your response.

Donna Young

• This topic was modified 11 years, 5 months ago by Bill McCallum.

[Alexei Kassymov]

I think, N-RN.2 deals with that. For example, part b here.

[Bill McCallum]

Alexei is correct. Note the emphasis is on rewriting rather than simplifying, however. Indeed, it’s not at all clear which of $\sqrt{18}$ and $3\sqrt{2}$ is simpler, and each might be useful in different contexts.

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