How do you simplify sqrt5(3+sqrt15)?

1 Answer
Jun 3, 2017

See a solution process below:

Explanation:

First, eliminate the parenthesis by multiplying each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

color(red)(sqrt(5))(3 + sqrt(15)) =>

(color(red)(sqrt(5)) * 3) + (color(red)(sqrt(5)) * sqrt(15)) =>

3sqrt(5) + (sqrt(5) * sqrt(15))

Next, use this rule for multiplying radicals to rewrite the term on the right:

sqrt(color(red)(a)) * sqrt(color(blue)(b)) = sqrt(color(red)(a) * color(blue)(b))

3sqrt(5) + (sqrt(color(red)(5)) * sqrt(color(blue)(15))) =>

3sqrt(5) + (sqrt(color(red)(5) * color(blue)(15))) =>

3sqrt(5) + sqrt(75)

Then, we can use the same rule in reverse to again rewrite and simplify the term on the right:

3sqrt(5) + sqrt(75) =>

3sqrt(5) + sqrt(color(red)(25) * color(blue)(3)) =>

3sqrt(5) + (sqrt(color(red)(25)) * sqrt(color(blue)(3))) =>

3sqrt(5) + (5 * sqrt(color(blue)(3))) =>

3sqrt(5) + 5sqrt(3)