case, the number is 24: Multiply 1/6 4/4 and 1/8 3/3, to change each addend to
some number of “24ths”; or 1/6 4/4 4/24; and 1/8 3/3 3/24. Thus, 1/6 1/8
4/24 3/24 (43)/24 7/24.
What is the rootof a number?
The root of a real or complex number is a number that, when raised to some exponent
(or multiplied by itself the number of times indicated by the exponent), equals the
original number. Most people are familiar with square and cube roots. There are actu-
ally many other such roots, including the real fourth roots, real fifth roots, and so on,
and roots associated with complex numbers. For example, the real fourth roots of 16
are 2 and 2; the real fifth root of 32 is 2.
What are the squareand square roots?
When you multiply a real or complex number by itself, you are actually squaring that
number. Mathematicians express the square of a number using the superscript 2, or,
for example, 2^2. The square of a real number is always positive, whether the number is
22 (4) or 22 (4; a negative times a negative equals a positive real number).
A square root is a number that when multiplied by itself equals a specific product.
For example, if t^2 s, then t± s, in which tis the square root and sis a positive
number. For example, the two square roots of 16 ( 16 ) are 4 and 4, as 4^2 16 and
42 16.
What are the cubeand the cube root?
Much like a square, a cube is when you multiply a real or complex number by twice
itself (making a total of three numbers). Mathematicians express the cube of a number
using the superscript 3; or, for example, 2^3 , or 2 2 2. Unlike a square of a number,
the cube of a number will not always be positive, such as 3 3 3, which
equals 9.
A cube root is a number that when multiplied by itself two more times has the
product of s,in which t^3 s. For example, the cube root of 125 (s) is 5 (t), or written
as ^3125 5; the cube root of 125 is 5.
What is a factorand what does factorizationmean?
A factoris a portion of a quantity that when multiplied by other factors gives the
entire quantity (or product). In order to determine such factors (or divisors), you have
to use factorization(also called factoringor to factor). When factoring an integer, it is
referred to as prime factorization; when factoring a polynomial, it is called polynomial
factorization. 97