Radical problems on the GED Math test usually involve simplifying and reducing terms to find the answer. These questions are easy to recognize because they always include a radical symbol:

eq1401

Practice Questions

  1. The radical
    eq1402
    is between which numbers?

    A. 10 and 11 B. 11 and 12 C. 14 and 15 D. 64 and 65

  2. Simplify the radical,

    eq1403

    completely.

    eq1404

Answers and Explanations

  1. The correct answer is B.

    129 lies between the square numbers 121 and 144. Therefore,

    eq1405

    which reduces to

    eq1406

    Hence, Choice (B) is the correct answer.

  2. The correct answer is D.

    When combining radicals, you first have to check that the radicands (the expressions under the radical symbols) are the same. Because they are in this problem, you add the two coefficients together and leave the radicands alone:

    eq1407

    Because

    eq1408

    you can simplify the expression even further to give you

    eq1409

    Hence, Choice (D) is correct.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Stuart Donnelly, PhD, earned his doctorate in mathe-matics from Oxford University at the age of 25. Since then, he has established successful tutoring services in both Hong Kong and the United States and is considered by leading educators to be one of the most experienced and qualified private tutors in the country.

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