Radical (mathematics)

See radical for other uses of the term

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In mathematics, a radical is the root of a number, usually the principal root; thus, the radical symbol <math>\sqrt[n]{a}</math> means the principal nth root of a. Operations with radicals are given by the following formulas:

<math>

\sqrt[n]{ab} = \sqrt[n]{a} \sqrt[n]{b}, </math>

<math>

\sqrt[n]{\frac{a}{b}} = \frac{\sqrt[n]{a}}{\sqrt[n]{b}}, </math>

<math>

\sqrt[n]{a^m} = \sqrt[n]{a}^m = a^{\frac{m}{n}}, </math>

where a and b are positive. If a radical cannot be reduced, the value is considered irrational[?]. See square root for the case where n=2.