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Question

Simplify: \(\sqrt {176 + \sqrt {2401} } \)

The correct answer is

15

Simplifying Nested Square Roots: Step-by-Step Guide

The problem asks us to simplify the mathematical expression involving nested square roots: \(\sqrt {176 + \sqrt {2401} }\). To solve this, we need to work from the inside out, first evaluating the innermost square root and then proceeding with the outer expression.

Step 1: Evaluate the Innermost Square Root

The innermost part of the expression is \(\sqrt{2401}\). We need to find the number that, when multiplied by itself, gives 2401.

  • We can estimate the square root. We know \(40^2 = 1600\) and \(50^2 = 2500\). So, the square root of 2401 is between 40 and 50.
  • The number 2401 ends with the digit 1. This means its square root must end with either 1 (since \(1^2=1\)) or 9 (since \(9^2=81\)).
  • Considering our estimate, the possible values are 41 or 49.
  • Let's check 49: \(49 \times 49\).

Calculation:

  49
x 49
----
 441 (9 * 49)
1960 (40 * 49)
----
2401

So, \(\sqrt{2401} = 49\).

Step 2: Substitute the Value and Simplify the Expression

Now we substitute the value of \(\sqrt{2401}\) back into the original expression:

The expression becomes \(\sqrt{176 + 49}\).

Next, we need to calculate the sum inside the square root:

\(176 + 49 = 225\).

So the expression simplifies to \(\sqrt{225}\).

Step 3: Evaluate the Outer Square Root

Finally, we need to find the square root of 225. We need the number that, when multiplied by itself, gives 225.

  • We know \(10^2 = 100\) and \(20^2 = 400\). So, the square root of 225 is between 10 and 20.
  • The number 225 ends with the digit 5. This means its square root must end with 5 (since \(5^2=25\)).
  • The only number between 10 and 20 that ends in 5 is 15.
  • Let's check 15: \(15 \times 15 = 225\).

So, \(\sqrt{225} = 15\).

Therefore, the simplified value of the expression \(\sqrt {176 + \sqrt {2401} }\) is 15.

Summary of Simplification Steps

Here's a quick recap of the simplification process:

  1. Identify the innermost square root: \(\sqrt{2401}\).
  2. Calculate its value: \(\sqrt{2401} = 49\).
  3. Substitute the value back: \(\sqrt{176 + 49}\).
  4. Calculate the sum inside the square root: \(176 + 49 = 225\).
  5. Evaluate the remaining square root: \(\sqrt{225} = 15\).
Step Operation Calculation Result
1 Innermost square root \(\sqrt{2401}\) 49
2 Substitution and Addition \(176 + 49\) 225
3 Outer square root \(\sqrt{225}\) 15

Revision Table: Key Concepts for Simplifying Square Roots

Concept Description Example
Square Root A number that produces a given number when multiplied by itself. Represented by the symbol \(\sqrt{}\). \(\sqrt{9} = 3\) because \(3 \times 3 = 9\)
Perfect Square An integer that is the square of an integer. 9, 16, 25, 49, 225, 2401 are perfect squares.
Simplifying Nested Radicals Evaluating the expression by working from the innermost radical outwards. \(\sqrt{a + \sqrt{b}}\) requires finding \(\sqrt{b}\) first, then calculating \(a + \sqrt{b}\), then taking the square root of the result.

Additional Information: Finding Square Roots

Finding the square root of a large number like 2401 can be done using various methods:

  • Estimation: Bounding the number between squares of tens (\(40^2=1600, 50^2=2500\)).
  • Unit Digit Analysis: Looking at the last digit of the number (ends in 1, so root ends in 1 or 9).
  • Prime Factorization: Breaking the number down into its prime factors. For 2401, \(2401 = 7 \times 343 = 7 \times 7 \times 49 = 7 \times 7 \times 7 \times 7 = 7^4\). Then \(\sqrt{2401} = \sqrt{7^4} = 7^{4/2} = 7^2 = 49\).
  • Long Division Method: A systematic algorithm similar to long division for finding square roots.

For common perfect squares like 225, it's helpful to memorize them up to a certain point (e.g., up to \(20^2\) or \(25^2\)) as they appear frequently in problems.

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Important Questions from Surds and Indices

  1. The value of (0.3) [{(200 - 146)/(3 × 3 × 3)} - 3] is:

  2. The expression \(\frac{{15\left( {\sqrt {10} + \sqrt 5 } \right)}}{{\sqrt {10\;} + \sqrt {20} + \sqrt {40} - \sqrt 5 - \sqrt {80} }}\)  is equal to:

  3. Let \(x = \left( {\frac{{√ {1875} }}{{√ {3888} }} \div \frac{{√ {1200} }}{{\sqrt 768}}} \right) \times \frac{{√ {175} }}{{√ {1792} }}\) . Then √x is equal to:

  4. If \(x = \sqrt {-\sqrt 3 + \sqrt {3 + 8\sqrt {7 + 4\sqrt 3}}}\)  where x > 0, then the value of x is equal to:

  5. What is the value of \(\frac{\sqrt{7}+\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{7}−\sqrt{5}} \div \frac{\sqrt{14}+\sqrt{10}}{\sqrt{14}−\sqrt{10}}+\frac{\sqrt{10}}{\sqrt{5}}\) ?

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