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Adding and Subtracting Like Radicals

To add or subtract higher-order roots, apply the same logic used for combining like terms or like square roots: add or subtract the numerical coefficients while leaving the radical factor untouched. This operation requires that the terms be like radicals, meaning they must have identical indices and identical radicands. For instance, 942x4242x4=742x49\sqrt[4]{42x} - 2\sqrt[4]{42x} = 7\sqrt[4]{42x} because both terms are fourth roots with the radicand 42x42x. If the radicals do not match initially, you should first simplify each one by extracting the largest perfect nnth power factor. Often, this simplification process will reveal hidden like radicals that can then be successfully combined.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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