Example

Simplifying 16543\sqrt[3]{\frac{16}{54}} and 5804\sqrt[4]{\frac{5}{80}}

Simplify higher-order roots whose radicands are fractions by first removing common factors from the numerator and denominator to reveal perfect powers.

16543\sqrt[3]{\frac{16}{54}}: Simplify inside the radical first. Factor to reveal common factors: 282273\sqrt[3]{\frac{2 \cdot 8}{2 \cdot 27}}. Remove the common factor of 22 to get 8273\sqrt[3]{\frac{8}{27}}. The reduced fraction is a perfect cube fraction, since (23)3=827\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^3 = \frac{8}{27}. The result is 23\frac{2}{3}.

5804\sqrt[4]{\frac{5}{80}}: Simplify inside the radical. Factor to reveal common factors: 515164\sqrt[4]{\frac{5 \cdot 1}{5 \cdot 16}}. Remove the common factor of 55 to get 1164\sqrt[4]{\frac{1}{16}}. The reduced fraction is a perfect fourth power fraction, since (12)4=116\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^4 = \frac{1}{16}. The result is 12\frac{1}{2}.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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Ch.8 Roots and Radicals - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

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