Radicand

Definition

A radicand is the number or expression inside a radical symbol, which is the quantity being subjected to the root operation. For example, in the square root of 9, written as $\sqrt{9}$, the number 9 is the radicand.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The radicand can be any real number or algebraic expression.
2. When simplifying radicals, focus on simplifying the radicand first.
3. If the radicand is negative and you're dealing with even roots (like square roots), no real number solutions exist.
4. Radicals can be written using rational exponents; for example, $\sqrt[3]{8}$ can be written as $8^{1/3}$.
5. Combining radicals involves combining their radicands when possible, such as $\sqrt{a} \times \sqrt{b} = \sqrt{ab}$.

Review Questions

• What is the radicand in the expression $\sqrt{x + 4}$?
• How would you write $16^{1/4}$ in radical form?
• Can a radicand be a negative number when dealing with square roots? Explain why or why not.

Related terms

Radical: A symbol used to indicate the root of a number or expression. The most common radical is the square root, denoted by $\sqrt{}$.

Rational Exponent: An exponent that is expressed as a fraction, where both numerator and denominator are integers. For example, $x^{1/n}$ represents the n-th root of x.

Simplifying Radicals: The process of rewriting a radical expression to its simplest form by factoring out perfect squares from under the radical sign.