Unit 1: Radicals

Radical calculations are common place in geometry and trigonometry, particularly in working with triangles. Triangles are the strongest support and most stable structures used in carpentry and masonry. One of the most useful formulas used in everyday construction is the Pythagorean Theorem, . This formula involves the use of square root operations to find side measures. Unit 1 will investigate the skills of simplifying radicals, operations with radicals, and solving radical equations. Applying these skills to real world calculations, such as those used in carpentry and construction, reinforce their importance.

Lesson 1.1: Introduction to Radicals

Let's start with a simple comparison of opposites. The opposite of hot is cold. The opposite of an acid is a base. Given negative five, the opposite number is positive five. Radicals also have opposites. For instance, (a number squared) has an opposite, which is the square root of that number, . It is a common practice to use the words radical and root interchangeably in mathematics.