Answer
Dendrites receive signals from other neurons. Axons send signals.
Work Step by Step
You can see the functional difference in the structure of dendrites and axons. Dendrites are specialized for receiving signals. They often look like tree roots because the cell doesn't want to miss a signal and may be receiving signals from multiple sources. The axon is specialized for rapid conduction of nerve signals to areas away from the soma. The cell only needs to send one signal out at a time.
