Solve the Square Root Expression: Simplifying √(2/4)

Simplify the following expression:

Begin by reducing the fraction under the square root:

$\sqrt{\frac{2}{4}}= \\ \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}=$

Apply two exponent laws:

A. Definition of root as a power:

$\sqrt[n]{a}=a^{\frac{1}{n}}$

B. The power law for powers applied to terms in parentheses:

$\big(\frac{a}{b}\big)^n=\frac{a^n}{b^n}$

Let's return to the expression that we obtained. Apply the law mentioned in A and convert the square root to a power:

$\sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}=\\ \big(\frac{1}{2}\big)^{\frac{1}{2}}=$

Next use the power law mentioned in B, apply the power separately to the numerator and denominator.

In the next step remember that raising the number 1 to any power will always result in 1.

In the fraction's denominator we'll return to the root notation, again, using the power law mentioned in A (in the opposite direction):

$\big(\frac{1}{2}\big)^{\frac{1}{2}}= \\ \frac{1^{\frac{1}{2}}}{2^{\frac{1}{2}}}=\\ \boxed{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}\\$ Let's summarize the simplification of the given expression:

$\sqrt{\frac{2}{4}}= \\ \sqrt{\frac{1}{2}}= \\ \frac{1^{\frac{1}{2}}}{2^{\frac{1}{2}}}=\\ \boxed{\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}}}\\$Therefore, the correct answer is answer D.