Simplify $\frac{\sqrt{24}}{8}$

Question

The question I have been given is to simplify as much as possible: $\frac{\sqrt {24}}{8}$. I know the answer is $\frac{\sqrt 6}{4}$

(Note I am in a beginner math course, so go easy on me.)

My first thought was to divide to get: $\frac{\sqrt {12}}{4}$ and then again: $\frac{\sqrt 3}{1}$. However, I realized this was wrong. So I tried $\frac{\sqrt {24}}{2\times\sqrt 4}$ which would make the denominator equal to 4, which is right. So I thought I could do that to the top too, but I couldn't. I feel like I'm on the right track but not really there. Can someone help me figure out how to solve questions like these?

Answer 1

You should first simplify the square root part as much as possible, then cancel the fraction.

$$\sqrt{24}=\sqrt{4\times 6}=\sqrt{4}\times\sqrt{6}=2\sqrt{6}$$

Here you should always be trying to make one of the factors the largest square number that divides the number you are taking the square root of (here $4$ is the largest square that divides $24$).

Now you can simplify the fraction: $$\frac{\sqrt{24}}{8}=\frac{2\times\sqrt{6}}{8}=\frac{1\times\sqrt{6}}4=\frac{\sqrt{6}}4.$$

when doing this you can only cancel numbers from the top and bottom if they are both outside the square root (or both inside).

Answer 2

You can see $\sqrt{24} = \sqrt{4 \cdot 6}$. Since $\sqrt{a\cdot b} = \sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b}$, you can expand the nominator to result in $2\cdot \sqrt{6}$. You can then divide by the $2$ to get the desired result.

Answer 3

You could square the fraction, then simplify, then take the square root. $$\frac{\sqrt{24}^2}{8^2}=\frac{24}{64}=\frac{6}{16}$$

Taking the square root of both sides leaves the desired answer. $$\frac{\sqrt{6}}{\sqrt{16}}=\frac{\sqrt{6}}{4}$$

Answer 4

How would you go about simplifying $$\frac{24}{8}?$$ You could try repeatedly halving the numerator and the denominator until arriving at the answer: $$\frac{24}{8} = \frac{12}{4} = \frac{6}{2} = \frac{3}{1} = 3.$$

Believe it or not, $$\frac{\sqrt{24}}{2} = \sqrt 6.$$ But hey, I'm a demon, I could be trying to lead you astray. So check it on your calculator.

So, by the same process as the other one, $$\frac{\sqrt{24}}{8} = \frac{\sqrt{6}}{4}.$$