Simplfy a Square Root by Factoring

In Algebra I, we learned that the square root of 8 (√8) is 2 times the square root of 2 (2√2), √360 is 6√10.

If you know how to program a TI-84, you could do this for any positive integer with a program like RAD

Make a new project in BlueJ, and make a new class MyMath.

  1. Declare a new static method that takes a integer n and returns a String
  2. Make two local variables, one for the coefficient , and one for a factor
  3. Put a 1 in the coefficient, and the first prime 2 into the factor
  4. While the factor is less than n, see if the factor squared divides n evenly
  5. If it does, multiply the factor to the coeffient, and divide out the squared factor from n.
  6. Keep doing this until the factor no longer divides n.
  7. Next, change the factor (which starts out as 2) to the next odd number
  8. return a String that starts with the coefficiant, then the v character, then what is left of n

In BlueJ, you can run the static method directly, just like you usually do with the main method.