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How to Simplify Radicals in the Denominator

In the tricky world of fractions, it is a convention not to leave radicals in the denominator. Radicals are any sort of root-based expression, such as a square root or cubic root. In order to get rid of the radicals in the denominator of a fraction, you must always do the same thing to the numerator as well, in order to preserve the fraction's value.

Things You'll Need

  • Pencil
  • Paper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Write your fraction in its most reduced form. For example: 40/[6√2] = 20/[3√2].

    • 2

      Multiply both the numerator and denominator of your fraction by the radical in the denominator. This eliminates the radical in the denominator. Because you are doing this to both sides of the fraction, this will not change the value of the fraction itself. For example:

      20/[3√2] = 20/[3√2] * √2/√2 = [20√2]/(3*2)

    • 3

      Divide all other common terms out, leaving your fraction in its most reduced form. You will likely have a radical in the numerator at the end. For example:

      [20√2]/(3*2) = [10√2]/3

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