Lesson 4

Lesson 4: Multiplying and Dividing Radicals

 

Focus

 

Skydivers jump out of an airplane and free fall through the air. As they fall, their speed increases until they open their parachutes. You can calculate a skydiver’s velocity during the first part of the skydiving jump by using the radical expression where

• d is the distance the skydiver has fallen in metres

• a is the acceleration due to gravity, which on Earth is 9.8 m/s2

• vi is the initial velocity in m/s

• vf is the final velocity in m/s at distance d

While most skydivers likely don’t calculate their velocity, it is important that the designers of parachutes have done these and other calculations so the parachute will safely return the skydivers to the ground. You don’t have to be a young physics genius to know that radical expressions are important. Knowing how to work with a radical expression and simplify it correctly is needed not just in science, but also in art, finance, human relations, political science, business, astronomy, and a host of other fields.

 

In this lesson you will multiply, divide, and simplify radical expressions. These are essential skills needed to deal effectively with the radical expressions and equations you will encounter in the next lessons.

 

This lesson will help you answer the following inquiry questions:

• How do you multiply radical expressions?
  
  
• How do you divide radical expressions?

Assessment

• Lesson 4 Assignment

All assessment items you encounter need to be placed in your course folder.

 

Save a copy of the Lesson 4 Assignment to your course folder. You will receive more information about how to complete the assignment later in this lesson.

 

 

Materials and Equipment

• calculator