Treat radicals like you would a variable (like x). Only like radicals can be added or
Rules for addition Subtraction
1. simplify radical to simplest terms
2. Combine like radicals and reduce
Multiplying radicals by a binomial
Again, treat the radical like a variable and multiple each term by the multiplier
FOIL and Radicals
Take each term in the first bracket and multiply it by each term in the 2nd.
Radical as denominators
A radical should never be left as a denominator in a fraction. Multiple the fraction by a
radical to eliminate the fraction.
Notice that if the denominator is a binomial we have to multiple by its conjugate (we
keep the values the same, but change the sign in -between the terms). The product of two
conjugates is always a rational number.
1. multiple the radical by a conjugate