Solution 3.1:2e

From Förberedande kurs i matematik 1

Looking first at 18  this square root expression can be simplified by writing 18 as a product of its smallest possible integer factors

18=29=233=232

and then we can take the quadratic out of the square root sign by using the rule a2b=ab  (valid for non-negative a and b),

18=232=32.

In the same way, we write 8=24=222=23 and get

8=222=22.

All together, we get

188=3222=3222=322=12.