Simplify the Square Root Expression: √(49x²)

Question

Solve the following exercise:

49x2= \sqrt{49x^2}=

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:06 Let's simplify this expression together.
00:10 The square root of a number A, times the square root of a number B, is the square root of A times B.
00:18 We'll use this idea in our exercise.
00:21 Using the formula, we'll break down the root to two roots
00:25 leaving us with 49, which we can write as 7 squared.
00:30 Remember, the square root of A squared is just A.
00:35 Let's apply this to our exercise.
00:38 And that gives us our solution. Great job!

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to simplify the given expression, apply the following three laws of exponents:

a. Definition of root as an exponent:

an=a1n \sqrt[n]{a}=a^{\frac{1}{n}}

b. Law of exponents for an exponent applied to terms in parentheses:

(ab)n=anbn (a\cdot b)^n=a^n\cdot b^n

c. Law of exponents for an exponent raised to an exponent:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n}

We'll start with converting the fourth root to an exponent using the law of exponents mentioned in a.:

49x2=(49x2)12= \sqrt{49x^2}= \\ \downarrow\\ (49x^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}=

We'll continue, using the law of exponents mentioned in b. and apply the exponent to each factor in the parentheses:

(49x2)12=4912(x2)12 (49x^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}= \\ 49^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot(x^2)^{{\frac{1}{2}}}

We'll once again continue, using the law of exponents mentioned in c. and perform the exponent applied to the term with an exponent in parentheses (the second factor in the multiplication):

4912(x2)12=4912x212=4912x1=49x=7x 49^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot(x^2)^{{\frac{1}{2}}} = \\ 49^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot x^{2\cdot\frac{1}{2}}=\\ 49^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot x^{1}=\\ \sqrt{49}\cdot x=\\ \boxed{7x}

In the final steps, we first converted the power of one-half applied to the first factor in the multiplication back to the fourth root form, again, according to the definition of root as an exponent mentioned in a. (in reverse) and then calculated the known fourth root of 49.

Therefore, the correct answer is answer c.

Answer

7x 7x