Question

How do you find the simplified radical form of 54?

Answer 1

`3sqrt6`

Explanation:

To simplify `sqrt54`

Begin by finding the prime factors of `54`

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For each factor pair place one factor outside of the radical and each unpaired factor place inside the radical.

Answer 2

`3sqrt6`

Explanation:

An alternate way of doing the simplification:

We can take `sqrt54` and break down 54 inside the radical:

`sqrt(3xx3xx3xx2)`

Remember that the square root and square operations are opposite - they cancel each other out. And so if we can find squares, we can cancel them against the square root:

`sqrt(3^2xx3xx2)`

And if we want, we can put the square into its own radical:

`sqrt(3^2)sqrt(3xx2)`

Cancel the square against the square root, and then simplify the other root:

`3sqrt6`