Why is it important to simplify radical expressions before adding or subtracting? How is adding radical expressions similar to adding polynomial expressions? How is it different? Provide a radical expression which consists of a sum or difference of two ra

Why is it important to simplify radical expressions before adding or subtracting? It is important to get radical expressions into their simplest form before you add or subtract them. You can only add and subtract like radicals (for example ). You cannot add them if they are different (for example ). How is adding radical expressions similar to adding polynomial expressions? How is it different? It is similar because in polynomial expressions, you can only add like terms. In radical expressions, you can only add like radicals. They are different, though, because instead of powers, you are dealing with roots. Provide a radical expression for your classmates to simplify. Here is one to simplify: The Answer is