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Example

Simplifying (8x3)(3x)(\sqrt{8x^3})(\sqrt{3x}) and (20y2)(5y3)(\sqrt{20y^2})(\sqrt{5y^3})

Multiply and simplify two products of square roots whose radicands contain both numbers and variables.

(8x3)(3x)(\sqrt{8x^3})(\sqrt{3x}):

Apply the Product Property to combine the radicands under a single radical:

(8x3)(3x)=24x4(\sqrt{8x^3})(\sqrt{3x}) = \sqrt{24x^4}

The numerical coefficient 83=248 \cdot 3 = 24 and the variable part x3x=x4x^3 \cdot x = x^4 (add the exponents: 3+1=43 + 1 = 4). Now simplify the radical by extracting the largest perfect square factor. The largest perfect square dividing 2424 is 44, and x4x^4 is already a perfect square:

24x4=4x46=2x26\sqrt{24x^4} = \sqrt{4x^4} \cdot \sqrt{6} = 2x^2\sqrt{6}

The simplified result is 2x262x^2\sqrt{6}.

(20y2)(5y3)(\sqrt{20y^2})(\sqrt{5y^3}):

Combine the radicands under a single radical:

(20y2)(5y3)=100y5(\sqrt{20y^2})(\sqrt{5y^3}) = \sqrt{100y^5}

The coefficient 205=10020 \cdot 5 = 100 is a perfect square, and the variable y5y^5 has an odd exponent. Factor the largest perfect square: 100y4100y^4:

100y5=10y2y\sqrt{100y^5} = 10y^2\sqrt{y}

The simplified result is 10y2y10y^2\sqrt{y}. These examples extend the technique of multiplying square roots to radicands that include variables — after combining under one radical, the Product Property for Exponents determines the new variable power, and then the standard simplification procedure extracts all perfect square factors.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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