lLovePhysics said:I read somewhere that you are supposed to leave radicals in the denominator when dealing with calculus. Before, I used to rationalize them to the numerator but my Calculus book now has the answers written unrationalized. So I'm wondering if I should start getting use to NOT rationalizing radicals in the denominator. Thanks.
Radicals are mathematical expressions that contain a root symbol, such as √ or ^1/2. They are important because they allow us to represent and manipulate numbers that are not perfect squares or cubes.
You leave radicals in the denominator when simplifying a fraction or expression that contains a radical. This is because it is considered more simplified and in its simplest form.
Yes, you can leave radicals in the denominator when solving equations. This is because it is still a valid solution and can be simplified further if necessary.
The steps to simplify an expression with radicals in the denominator are: 1) Factor the denominator to see if any terms can be cancelled out, 2) Rationalize the denominator by multiplying the expression by the root of the denominator, and 3) Simplify the expression further if possible.
Yes, there are instances where leaving radicals in the denominator is not acceptable, such as when the expression is a part of a larger problem or when a teacher or textbook explicitly states to simplify the expression completely.