How do you get rid of a negative radical in the denominator?

So, in order to rationalize the denominator, we need to get rid of all radicals that are in the denominator.

Table of Contents

Step 1: Multiply numerator and denominator by a radical that will get rid of the radical in the denominator.
Step 2: Make sure all radicals are simplified.
Step 3: Simplify the fraction if needed.

Can you have a radical in the denominator?

When we have a fraction with a root in the denominator, like 1/√2, it’s often desirable to manipulate it so the denominator doesn’t have roots. To do that, we can multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the same root, that will get rid of the root in the denominator.

Why can’t you have a radical in the denominator?

To rationalize a denominator, you need to find a quantity that, when multiplied by the denominator, will create a rational number (no radical terms) in the denominator. When the denominator contains a single term, as in , multiplying the fraction by will remove the radical from the denominator.

How do you get rid of a denominator in a fraction?

Solve equations by clearing the Denominators

Find the least common denominator of all the fractions in the equation.
Multiply both sides of the equation by that LCD.
Isolate the variable terms on one side, and the constant terms on the other side.
Simplify both sides.

Can you leave square root in denominator?

A numerator can contain a radical, but the denominator can’t. The final expression may look more complicated in its rational form, but that’s what you have to do sometimes.

Does negative have a square root?

Negative numbers don’t have real square roots since a square is either positive or 0. The square roots of numbers that are not a perfect square are members of the irrational numbers.

Can you break up the denominator?

You can break up a fraction that has several terms in the numerator and one in the denominator — but not the other way around. Break up the fraction by writing each term over the denominator.

How do you get rid of a negative log in an equation?

To rid an equation of logarithms, raise both sides to the same exponent as the base of the logarithms. In equations with mixed terms, collect all the logarithms on one side and simplify first.