Simplify the radical expression: \( \sqrt{72} \)

To simplify the radical expression \( \sqrt{72} \), follow these steps: 1. **Factor the Number Inside the Radical:** Begin by finding the prime factors of 72. \[ 72 = 36 \times 2 = 6^2 \times 2 \] 2. **Apply the Square Root Property:** The square root of a product is the product of the square roots. \[ \sqrt{72} = \sqrt{36 \times 2} = \sqrt{36} \times \sqrt{2} \] 3. **Simplify the Square Roots:** \[ \sqrt{36} = 6 \quad \text{and} \quad \sqrt{2} \text{ remains as is since 2 is a prime number.} \] 4. **Combine the Simplified Terms:** \[ \sqrt{72} = 6\sqrt{2} \] **Final Answer:** \[ \sqrt{72} = 6\sqrt{2} \]