How do you rationalize a demoninator if the denominator is a cube root

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the topic of rationalizing denominators that involve cube roots. Participants explore how to handle expressions where the denominator is a cube root, particularly when it is not a perfect cube.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss methods for rationalizing cube roots, including multiplying by a form of one to eliminate the cube root from the denominator. There are attempts to clarify the process and correct previous misunderstandings about cube roots and their properties.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided examples and corrections to their earlier posts, indicating a collaborative effort to clarify the rationalization process for cube roots. There is an ongoing exploration of different approaches and interpretations without a clear consensus on a single method.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express confusion over the properties of cube roots and the necessary steps to rationalize them, leading to discussions about specific values and expressions that can be used in the rationalization process.

mileena
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Hi, I know how to rationalize a denominator when it is a square root monomial or a square root binomial (through conjugation).

For example, for a square-root monomial:

5/√25 =

[5(√25)]/
[(√25)(√25)] =

[5(√25)]/25 =

(√25)/5 =

1 or -1and, for a square-root binomial:

5/(5 + √25) =

5(5 - √25)/
[(5 + √25)(5 - √25)] =

[5(5 - √25)]/
25 -25 =

0/0 [undefined] or 50/0 [undefined] But what if the denominator is a cube root:

x/(3√11) ?

How do you simplify this (assuming the denominator isn't a perfect cube)? I didn't get a question similar to this correct on my assessment test.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
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The example cube root you ask for seem not tricky because 27 already is a cube. The cubed root of 27 is 3, so the denominator is already rationalized.

How about something like this: [itex]\frac{x}{\sqrt[3]{28}}[/itex]
Multiply by 1 in the form of [itex]\frac{\sqrt[3]{28}}{\sqrt[3]{28}}[/itex]

Result is [itex]\frac{x\sqrt[3]{28}}{28}[/itex]


EDIT: That was already posted in this same posting but already responded to, when I realize now I made a big mistake.


This example is for a cube root. With the (1/(28)^(1/3)) denominator, I should have shown multiplying numerator and denominator this way:
[itex]\frac{\sqrt[3]{28}}{\sqrt[3]{28}}\cdot\frac{\sqrt[3]{28}}{\sqrt[3]{28}}[/itex]
 
Last edited:
symbolipoint said:
The example cube root you ask for seem not tricky because 27 already is a cube. The cubed root of 27 is 3, so the denominator is already rationalized.

How about something like this: [itex]\frac{x}{\sqrt[3]{28}}[/itex]
Multiply by 1 in the form of [itex]\frac{\sqrt[3]{28}}{\sqrt[3]{28}}[/itex]

Result is [itex]\frac{x\sqrt[3]{28}}{28}[/itex]

But doesn't

(3√28) x (3√28) = 3√282) ??

[because 281/3 + 281/3 = 282/3,
because of the rule (xa) (xb) = xa+b ]

Also, I edited my original post to eliminate the perfect cube in the denominator.
 
Last edited:
mileena said:
But doesn't

(3√28) x (3√28) = 3√282) ??

(because the exponents 1/3 + 1/3 = 2/3)

Also, I edited my original post to eliminate the perfect cube in the denominator.

Find a value of ##n## in $$\frac{x}{11^{1/3}} \cdot \frac{11^n}{11^n}$$ such that the denominator is rational.
 
CAF123 said:
Find a value of ##n## in $$\frac{x}{11^{1/3}} \cdot \frac{11^n}{11^n}$$ such that the denominator is rational.

That helps a lot!

What if I multiply by: 112/3/112/3

So the denominator will be (111/3)(112/3) = 11 !

So the final answer will be (x3√112)/11
 
mileena said:
That helps a lot!

What if I multiply by: 112/3/112/3

So the denominator will be (111/3)(112/3) = 11 !

So the final answer will be (x3√112)/11

Correct.
 
Thanks! I finally got something right :-p
 
mileena said:
Thanks! I finally got something right :-p

mileena,
please recheck my post. I found my mistake and added better information. We square a square root to bring back the number under the radical. We cube a cubed root to bring back the number under the radical.
 

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