Consider the number 157512. After simplification, the number belongs to which smallest set?
a) Integers but not natural numbers
b) Rational numbers but not integers
c) Natural numbers
d) Irrational numbersIntuitive explanation
The key is to simplify the radicals by factoring out perfect squares, then multiply and reduce. Notice that 75=25⋅3=53 and 12=4⋅3=23, so their product becomes much cleaner. Once you multiply and cancel, you'll get a number with no radicals left—which tells you exactly which familiar number set it belongs to.
Intuitive explanation
The key is to simplify the radicals by factoring out perfect squares, then multiply and reduce. Notice that 75=25⋅3=53 and 12=4⋅3=23, so their product becomes much cleaner. Once you multiply and cancel, you'll get a number with no radicals left—which tells you exactly which familiar number set it belongs to.