To simplify the square root of 40, first notice that 40 is not a perfect square. We can start by setting up a factor tree. 40 factors as 2 times 20. 20 factors as 2 times 10 and 10 factors as 2 times 5. There is a pair of two's so this means that a two can come out of the radical. The 2 and the 5 do not match up so they will stay inside the radical. If you multiply them together you will make 10.
Therefore, the square root of 40 simplifies to 2 root 10.
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