18/12/2021, 10:27 SURDS revise number GCSE Maths

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[ useful expressions ][simple rationalising of surds ]

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Surds are mathematical expressions containing square roots. However, it must be emphasized CRIME...
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that the square roots are 'irrational' i.e. they do not result in a whole number, a terminating
decimal or a recurring decimal.
 
The rules governing surds are taken from the Laws of Indices.
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18/12/2021, 10:27 SURDS revise number GCSE Maths

 
expression #2 - (the difference of two squares)
 

 
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Rationalising Surds - This is a way of modifying surd expressions so that the square root is in
the numerator of a fraction and not in the denominator.
 
The method is to multiply the top and bottom of the fraction by the square root.
 

 
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Rationalising expressions using the 'difference of two squares'
 
Remembering that : .... .....from 'useful expressions' above.
 

Example #1 - simplify

 
multiplying top and bottom by
 

 
 

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18/12/2021, 10:27 SURDS revise number GCSE Maths

Example #2 - rationalise

 
multiply top and bottom by
 

 
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Reduction of Surds - This is a way of making the square root smaller by examining its squared
factors and removing them.
 

 
 
Rational and Irrational Numbers - In the test for rational and irrational numbers, if a surd has a
square root in the numerator, while the denominator is '1' or some other number, then the
number represented by the expression is 'irrational'.
 

examples of irrational surds:

 
 
 
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