Download Eight - James Q. Jacobs

Introductory Algebra
Glossary
Unit Eight
square root
The opposite of squaring a
number is called taking its
square root;
that is, a number b is the square
root of a if b2 = a.
radicand
The number or expression under
a radical sign.
radical
A radical sign with a radicand.
radical expression
An algebraic expression that
contains radicals.
perfect square
A number with a rational square
root.
cube root
A number b is the cube root of a
if b3 = a.
fourth root
A number b is the fourth root of a
if b4 = a.
index (order)
In a radical of the form, the nth
root, n is called the index or
order.
perfect cube
A number with a rational cube
root.
like radicals
Terms that have multiples of the
same root of the same number.
rationalizing the
denominator
The process of removing radicals
from a denominator so that the
denominator contains only
rational numbers.
conjugate
The conjugate of a + b is a - b.
squaring property
If both sides of a given equation
are squared, all solutions of the
original equation are among the
solutions of the squared
equation. Used to solve
equations that include square
roots.
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Introductory Algebra
Created by
James Q. Jacobs