Calculating with surds

Two students recorded their answers for a surds worksheet where they had to simplify surd
expressions. Their answers are shown below. For this activity you need to do two things:
1. Decide whether each student provided a correct answer. Circle their correct answers.
2. If neither student is correct then find the correct answer, showing any working out.
Item
No.

Item

1.

3+ 5 + 3

2.

3 3+ 5+ 32 5

Student A
response

3 3+ 5

Student B
response

2 5 +3 3

3 3 5

4.6921

3.

2 2 2 2

4 2

4.

2 2 2 + 2

4 2

3 2

5.

45

3 5

5 3

6.

12

6 2

2 3

7.

12 + 6

18

72

8.

1+ 2
2

2
+1
2

9.

10 + 5 2
5

10.

3 3+4 2
2

11

12

2 +2

2+5 2

7.674

3 3
+4
2

72 + 2

74

144

28
2
2

7 1

14 2

Correct answer