17Simplifying root sums
Simplify √50 + √18 − √8, writing the answer in the form a√2.
Breaking each root into a perfect-square factor gives √50 = 5√2, √18 = 3√2, and √8 = 2√2. Adding and subtracting their coefficients, 5 + 3 − 2 = 6, so the answer is 6√2.