Algebra and Precalculus – Solving Nested Radicals $h^2=(2\sqrt{2})^2 – (\sqrt{2})^2$

algebra-precalculusnested-radicalsradicals

My resolution
$${\quad \quad \quad(2\sqrt[3]{2})^2 = h^2+(\sqrt[3]{2})^2 \\
\iff ( \sqrt[3]{16})^2= h^2 + \sqrt[3]{4} \\
\iff \sqrt[3]{256} = h^2 + \sqrt[3]{4}\\
\iff h^2 = \sqrt[3]{256}- \sqrt[3]{4}\\
\iff h = \sqrt{\sqrt[3]{256}- \sqrt[3]{4}} = \sqrt[6]{256}- \sqrt[6]{4}\\
\iff h = \sqrt[6]{64\times 4}- \sqrt[6]{4}\\
\iff h = 2\sqrt[6]{4}-\sqrt[6]{4} = \sqrt[6]{4}}$$

I've tried it over and over again but always get the same result. But in the textbook it says it should be $\sqrt[6]{108}$ .

Best Answer

As pointed out in the comments, you are wrong in 6th line.

$$h=\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{256}-\sqrt[3]{4}}\ne\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{256}}-\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{4}}$$

The correct way to do this, $$h{=\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{256}-\sqrt[3]{4}}\\ =\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{4^3\cdot4}-\sqrt[3]{4}}\\ =\sqrt{4\sqrt[3]{4}-\sqrt[3]{4}}\\ =\sqrt{3\sqrt[3]{4}}\\ =\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{4\cdot3^3}}\\ =\sqrt{\sqrt[3]{108}}\\ =\sqrt[6]{108} \quad \square}$$

Or, simply you can do, $$h^2{=(2\sqrt[3]{2})^2 - (\sqrt[3]{2})^2\\ =\left(2\sqrt[3]{2} + \sqrt[3]{2}\right)(2\sqrt[3]{2} - \sqrt[3]{2})\\ =\left(3\sqrt[3]{2}\right)\cdot(\sqrt[3]{2}) \\=3(\sqrt[3]{2})^2\\}$$

$$\therefore h=\sqrt3\cdot\sqrt[3]{2}=\sqrt[6]{3^3\cdot2^2}=\sqrt[6]{108}$$

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