Algebra · real student question

Use the product rule to simplify sqrt(3x) * sqrt(21x), assuming the variables represent nonnegative real numbers.

Question

Use the product rule to simplify

3x21x\sqrt{3x}\cdot\sqrt{21x}

assuming all variables represent nonnegative real numbers.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Combine under a single radical. The product rule ab=ab\sqrt{a}\cdot\sqrt{b} = \sqrt{ab} is valid for a,b0a, b \ge 0, which the nonnegativity assumption guarantees:

    3x21x=(3x)(21x)\sqrt{3x}\cdot\sqrt{21x} = \sqrt{(3x)(21x)}

  2. Multiply the radicand.

    (3x)(21x)=63x263x2(3x)(21x) = 63x^2 \quad\Longrightarrow\quad \sqrt{63x^2}

  3. Split off the perfect-square factors. Factor 63=9×763 = 9 \times 7, where 99 is a perfect square and 77 is square-free:

    63x2=97x2=37x2\sqrt{63x^2} = \sqrt{9}\cdot\sqrt{7}\cdot\sqrt{x^2} = 3\sqrt{7}\cdot\sqrt{x^2}

  4. Simplify the variable radical. In general x2=x\sqrt{x^2} = |x|, but the problem states x0x \ge 0, so the absolute value is unnecessary and x2=x\sqrt{x^2} = x. Hence

    3x21x=3x7\sqrt{3x}\cdot\sqrt{21x} = 3x\sqrt{7}

  5. Check numerically at x = 3. The original is 963=3×7.937254=23.811762\sqrt{9}\cdot\sqrt{63} = 3 \times 7.937254 = 23.811762. The simplified form gives 97=9×2.645751=23.8117629\sqrt7 = 9 \times 2.645751 = 23.811762. They agree to six decimals.

Answer

3x73x\sqrt{7}

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