# Math Help - "Writing a Radical Quotient in Lowest Terms"

1. ## "Writing a Radical Quotient in Lowest Terms"

Could someone please help me write this radical quotient in lowest terms? My textbook didn't give me an example for one like this. I'm confused.

$\frac{12-\sqrt{40}}{4}$

2. Originally Posted by firefly_senshi6
Could someone please help me write this radical quotient in lowest terms? My textbook didn't give me an example for one like this. I'm confused.

$\frac{12-\sqrt{40}}{4}$
All it wants you to do is simplify the radical, which gives you:

$\frac{12-2\sqrt{10}}{4}$

Then you can simplify the fraction by writing it like: $\frac{2(6)-2\sqrt{10}}{2(2)}$

Then cancel the twos: $\frac{\not{2}(6)-\!\!\not{2}\sqrt{10}}{\not{2}(2)}$

Therefore: $\frac{12-\sqrt{40}}{4}=\frac{6-\sqrt{10}}{2}$

Do you need help on simplifying the radical?

3. Ahhhh, I see what I was doing wrong, now. For some reason, instead of doing this:

$\frac{12-2\sqrt{10}}{4}$

I did this:

$\frac{12(2)-\sqrt{10}}{4}$

Thank you so much for your help! Now I know where I've been messing up.