Higher – Number

Surds

Learn all the foundation key facts √a × √b = √ab

√a a
and remember these top tips! √b = √b

〖(√a)2 = a

Recurring Decimals To simplify a surd, write it as the product of two factors, one of which must be a square
To change a recurring decimal to a fraction, number.
follow these steps. Your aim is to ensure you E.g. √50 = √(25 × 2)
have two decimals which have the same
numbers after the decimal point. = 5√2

E.g. change 0.235 to a fraction.

To rationalise the denominator of a fraction which has just one term on the bottom, you can
Let x = 0.235 multiply both the numerator and denominator by this number.
10x = 2.35 5 5 √
E.g. √2 = √2 × √22
1000x = 235.35 √
= 522

Subtracting these two gives

990x = 233 If the denominator has two terms, change the sign between them and multiply both the
numerator and denominator by this.
2 - √3
Solving gives E.g. 2 +7 √3 = 2 +7 √3 × 2 - √3
14 - 7√3
x = 233
990 4-3 = 14 - 7√3