Simplifying surds
Objective. Simplify surds and rationalise a simple denominator.
- 1. Learn
- 2. Worked example
- 3. Practice
- 4. Feedback
- 5. Continue
Learn: the key idea
Split the number under the root into a square factor and the rest: √50 = √25 × √2 = 5√2. To rationalise, multiply top and bottom by the surd.
Worked example
Simplify 6/√3.
- 1Multiply top and bottom by √3: 6√3 / 3.
- 26 ÷ 3 = 2.
Answer: 2√3
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Start practisingCommon mistake. Writing √(a + b) as √a + √b.
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