How do you simplify 3sqrt(-48)?

1 Answer
Dec 20, 2015

12i sqrt3

or more proper form

0 + 12 sqrt(3) " i

Explanation:

Rewrite as follow .... because we can't have a real answer if we have negative number under the radical

3sqrt(-48) = 3sqrt(48*-1

Rewrite, to that 2 numbers multiply equal 48 but one of them is a perfect square

=3sqrt(16*3*-1)

Take the square root of 16, and square of -1 and place it in the front as and multiply it to 3

=3*4*i sqrt(3)

= 12i sqrt(3)

**sqrt(-1) = i