Elementary Algebra

# Key Terms

Elementary AlgebraKey Terms

### Key Terms

index
$anan$ n is called the index of the radical.
like square roots
Square roots with the same radicand are called like square roots.
nth root of a number
If $bn=abn=a$, then $bb$ is an nth root of $aa$.
principal nth root
The principal nth root of $aa$ is written $anan$.
An equation in which the variable is in the radicand of a square root is called a radical equation
rational exponents

• If $anan$ is a real number and $n≥2n≥2$, $a1n=ana1n=an$.
• For any positive integers m and n, $amn=(an)mamn=(an)m$ and $amn=amnamn=amn$.
rationalizing the denominator
The process of converting a fraction with a radical in the denominator to an equivalent fraction whose denominator is an integer is called rationalizing the denominator.
square of a number

• If $n2=mn2=m$, then $mm$ is the square of $nn$
square root notation

• If $m=n2m=n2$, then $m=nm=n$. We read $mm$ as ‘the square root of $mm$.’
square root of a number

• If $n2=mn2=m$, then $nn$ is a square root of $mm$
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