How To Rationalize Square Roots?

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To rationalize square roots, you look for perfect square factors in the numerator and denominator. By factoring out these perfect square factors, you can write the radical in a form where the radicand is not a perfect square.

For example, to rationalize √12/√3:

√12/√3

Factor a √4 out of the numerator and a √1 out of the denominator:

√4×√3/√1×√3

Simplify the radicals:

2√3/√3

Finally, simplify the fraction:

2

So the rationalized form of √12/√3 is 2.


Related tutorial videos:

Rationalize the Denominator and Simplify With Radicals, Variables, Square Roots, Cube Roots, Algebra


How to rationalize a denominator | Exponent expressions and equations | Algebra I | Khan Academy