This week in precalculus I learned how to add and subtract radicals together.

Firstly, we need to know what a radical is.  A radical is pertaining (related) to or forming a root. An example is, .

Radicals can come in two forms: a mixed radical, 2 , or an entire radical, . Radicals always include a root sign and a radicand.  Some radicals also may include variables, .

To add radicals together whether they are mixed or entire radicals the radicand must be the same.  The radicand is the number (or it may be a variable) that is under the root sign.  To get the radicands the same you may have to use prime factorization to simplify one or both radicals.

Once the radicand is the same you add the coefficients of the radicals together and leave the radicands the same, as they are the same.  All radicals have coefficients. Coefficients are the numbers to the left outside of the root sign.  Although some radicals may not have an overt coefficient there is always a coefficient of one.

Finally, you add or subtract all the coefficients together and leave the radicand the same and you have your sum.