Learn Before
Example

Simplifying 4580\sqrt{\frac{45}{80}}

Simplify a square root whose radicand is a fraction that is not immediately a perfect square, by first removing common factors from the numerator and denominator.

4580\sqrt{\frac{45}{80}}

Step 1 — Simplify inside the radical first. Factor the numerator and denominator to reveal common factors: 4580=59516\frac{45}{80} = \frac{5 \cdot 9}{5 \cdot 16}.

Step 2 — Remove common factors. Cancel the shared factor of 55: 59516=916\frac{5 \cdot 9}{5 \cdot 16} = \frac{9}{16}.

Step 3 — Simplify. The reduced fraction 916\frac{9}{16} is a perfect square fraction, since (34)2=916\left(\frac{3}{4}\right)^2 = \frac{9}{16}:

916=34\sqrt{\frac{9}{16}} = \frac{3}{4}

When the radicand is a fraction whose numerator and denominator are not both perfect squares, simplify the fraction first by dividing out common factors. The resulting reduced fraction may turn out to be a perfect square fraction that can be evaluated directly.

0

1

Updated 2026-05-01

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.9 Roots and Radicals - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Prealgebra

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.8 Roots and Radicals - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Related
Learn After