Algebra · real student question

Add or subtract terms whenever possible: 2 times the fifth root of 4 plus 5 times the fifth root of 4.

Question

Add or subtract terms whenever possible:

245+5452\sqrt[5]{4} + 5\sqrt[5]{4}

Step-by-step solution

  1. Check whether the radicals are alike. Two radical terms combine only when the index and the radicand both match. Here both are fifth roots of 44, so they are like radicals.

  2. Treat the radical as a single symbol. Writing r=45r = \sqrt[5]{4} turns the problem into 2r+5r2r + 5r, which is ordinary like-term collection.

  3. Add the coefficients. 2+5=72 + 5 = 7, so the sum is 7r7r.

  4. Restore the radical and check it cannot be simplified. 4=224 = 2^2 contains no perfect fifth power, so 45\sqrt[5]{4} is already in lowest terms and the answer is 7457\sqrt[5]{4}.

  5. Check numerically. 451.319508\sqrt[5]{4} \approx 1.319508, so the left side is 2(1.319508)+5(1.319508)9.236552(1.319508) + 5(1.319508) \approx 9.23655 and 7(1.319508)9.236557(1.319508) \approx 9.23655.

Answer

7457\sqrt[5]{4}

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