Example 1

Reduce the radical expression . If the result has a root in the denominator, rationalize it. Is the result rational or irrational?
1. Rewrite each number in the expression as a product of prime numbers. 2. Cancel where possible to reduce the resulting expression. 3. Use the properties of radicals to rewrite the reduced expression. 4. Rationalize the denominator of the resulting fraction. 5. Determine whether the resulting expression is rational or irrational. This applet is provided by Walch Education as supplemental material for their mathematics programs. Visit www.walch.com for more information.