How do you add simplified square roots?

Answer 1

You can add simplified square roots only if the radicals are the same and, in that case, you treat the radicals as you would treat a variable in algebra.

For example, sqrt(18) + sqrt(50)

= sqrt(9*2) + sqrt(25*2)

= 3*sqrt(2) + 5*sqrt(2)

= [3 + 5]*sqrt(2)

= 8*sqrt(2)

Answer 2

To add simplified square roots, first simplify each individual square root expression. Then, if the numbers inside the square roots are the same, add or subtract the numbers outside the square roots. Finally, combine the numbers inside the square roots if possible. For example, to add √8 and √18, simplify them individually as 2√2 and 3√2. Since the numbers inside the square roots are the same, add 2 and 3 to get 5√2 as the final result.