Add or subtract as indicated

Question

Add or subtract as indicated

 

6√3+5√2-5√3-8√2 

 

 

 

 

( answer is √3-3√2 but i need help on how they got this number)

Answer 1

Cathryn,

 

What if you replaced √3 with x and √2 with y?

 

Then you would have 6x + 5y - 5x - 8y.

 

Do you know how to simply that?

 

Simplifying the expression with the square roots is done in the exact same way.

Answer 2

You can add and subtract terms that have the same radicand (term under the radical symbol √).

 

6√3 + 5√2 - 5√3 -8√2

 

Grouping terms with the same radicand:

 

(6√3 - 5√3) + (5√2 - 8√2 )

 

√3 - 3√2