Key learning points

1. Numbers can be classified as surds or not surds.
2. Square factors of numerical and algebraic terms can be identified.
3. The highest square term is the one needed when simplifying surds.

Keywords

• Factor - A factor is a term which exactly divides another term.

• Perfect square - A perfect square is a number that is the second exponent of an integer. It is usually shortened to square number.

• Surd - A surd is an irrational number expressed as the root of a rational number.

• Radical - The root sign is the radical symbol.

• Radicand - The radicand is the value inside the radical symbol.

Common misconception