Introductory Algebra Glossary

1
Introductory Algebra Glossary

• Chapter Nine

2
square root

• The opposite of squaring a number is called
  taking its square root
• that is, a number b is the square root of a if b2
  a.

3
radicand

• The number or expression under a radical sign.

4
radical

• A radical sign with a radicand.

5
radical expression

• An algebraic expression that contains radicals.

6
perfect square

• A number with a rational square root.

7
cube root

• A number b is the cube root of a if b3 a.

8
fourth root

• A number b is the fourth root of a if b4 a.

9
index (order)

• In a radical of the form, the nth root, n is
  called the index or order.

10
perfect cube

• A number with a rational cube root.

11
like radicals

• Terms that have multiples of the same root of
  the same number.

12
rationalizing the denominator

• The process of removing radicals from a
  denominator so that the denominator contains only
  rational numbers.

13
conjugate

• The conjugate of a b is a - b.

14
squaring property

• If both sides of a given equation are squared,
  all solutions of the original equation are among
  the solutions of the squared equation. Used to
  solve equations that include square roots.

15
Return to Introductory Algebra

• Created by
• James Q. Jacobs
• Superstition Mountain Campus
• Central Arizona College