Simplifying Radicals: Multiplication and Division Expressions
and Rationalizing the Denominator (PowerPoint)

Grades 8–11

Learn by doing! This presentation, in PowerPoint format, teaches the lesson while students practice the skill on individual dry erase boards. No need to teach the lesson beforehand! Use your class time practicing instead of instructing and watch your students’ confidence grow!

Does the class period feel too short to go over last night’s homework solutions, answer questions, teach the new lesson, and do some practice so your students aren’t totally lost at home? Have you gotten frustrated with teaching a lesson while your students take copious notes, only to find that they are unable to do the homework? Are your students’ parents frustrated because they can’t help their students at home? Are your students simply not doing homework? Do you constantly wonder how you can cover ALL your standards in one school year? Yup! That was my story, too! Something had to give!

I realized that the most effective use of my class time was practice – guided and with immediate feedback. So, when do I teach the lesson? I do it within the practice! The constant repetitive practice that we do in class is the great equalizer. It levels the playing field for students who have no access to help at home, for those who work jobs and have no time for homework, for those with learning disabilities who really need a teacher nearby when they are practicing, and for those who believe they are naturally bad at math.

Immediate, positive, constructive feedback is powerful! “My child likes math again,” and “I’ve never been good at math, but I get this stuff!” are things I hear often. It’s music to my ears! All it takes is making the majority of your class time guided practice, practice, practice!

• 111 Slides
• 30 Practice Problems
• Step-by-Step Solutions
• 10-Question Quiz and Solutions
• Helpful Tips
• Easy to Implement

In this resource, “Simplest Radical Form”, the problems presented will assist the students with simplifying radical monomial expressions so that they can better understand how to simplify by rationalizing the denominator. The difficulty level of the problems is minimal so that the students focus on the process rather than getting stumped by complicated numbers. Also, √2 and √3 show up frequently as these are common when studying special right triangles.

This resource is made up of 111 slides containing 30 practice problems, a 10-question quiz and solutions, and helpful hints for using the resource effectively. The practice problems in this unique slide presentation have step-by-step solutions – each click shows the next step. Click to the next step so students can see they are on the right track or can catch up. Repetition is key, so there are plenty of practice problems included, as well as “teachable moment” comments and helpful tips. At the end is a slide with a selection of 10 practice problems which can be used as independent or partner practice or as an assessment. Solutions are included on the following slide.

This is a powerful and effective whole class activity!

*Also available in Google Slides format.

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