FORM 2 MATHEMATICS

Chapter 9 Pythagoras’ Theorem / Irrational Numbers and Surds

Selected Challenging Questions for Enrichment

Taking Square Root (without using a calculator)

(1) Simple Square Numbers

12 = __________ 62 = __________ 112 = __________ 162 = __________

22 = __________ 72 = __________ 122 = __________ 172 = __________

32 = __________ 82 = __________ 132 = __________ 182 = __________

42 = __________ 92 = __________ 142 = __________ 192 = __________

52 = __________ 102 = __________ 152 = __________ 202 = __________

Complete the following table about the unit digits of square numbers:

The unit digit of 𝑥 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

The unit digit of 𝑥 2

(2) Taking Square Roots of a Large Square Number

Example 1 Find √676. (It is given that 676 is a square number.)

Step 1: Find the range of the square root.

As 202 = 400 and 302 = 900
Therefore, 20 < √676 < 30

Step 2: Check the possible unit digit of the square root.

The unit digit of 676 is 6.

Refer to the above table, if the unit digit of 𝑥 2 is 6

then the possible unit digit of x are _____ or _____

Step 3: Check them one by one

( )2 = __________ and ( )2 = __________

Therefore √676 = __________

Exercise 1 It is given that the following are square numbers. Find their square roots without using a
calculator.
1. 1 764 2. 3 249
3. 7 921 4. 15 129
(3) Taking Square Roots of Any Number with a given Degree of Accuracy

Example 2 Find √666 correct to the nearest integer.

Step 1: Find the range of the square root

As 252 = 625 and 262 = 676
Therefore, 25 < √666 < 26

Step 2: Find the square of the average value of the two numbers obtained in
Step 1
The average of 25 and 26 is ___________.

( )2 = _______________

Step 3: Compare the result obtained in Step 2 and revise the range of the
square root
Therefore __________ < √666 < __________

As a result, √666 = __________ (correct to the nearest integer)

Exercise 2 Without using a calculator, find the square root of the following numbers correct to the
nearest integer.
1. 1 234 2. 12 345

Example 3 (6th Pui Ching Invitational – S.2 Heat)

The figure shows an acute-angled triangle with area 120. Find x correct to the
nearest integer.
[Hint: Cut the triangle into two right-angled triangles by adding a suitable line.]
Competition Questions

(1) Surds – Basic Operations

1. (HKMO 2000 Group Event)

Let 𝑥 = √3 + √3 and 𝑦 = √3 − √3. Find the value of 𝑥 2 (1 + 𝑦)2 + 𝑦 2 .

2. (HKMO 2001 Group Event)

Let 𝑥 = √3 − √5 + √3 + √5 and 𝑦 = 𝑥 2 . Find the value of 𝑦.

3. (HKMO 2011 Individual Event)

It is given that 𝑎 + 𝑏 = √√2011 + √2010 and 𝑎 − 𝑏 = √√2011 + √2010.

Find the value of 𝑎𝑏. (Give your answer in surd form)

[Hint: Consider (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 − (𝑎 − 𝑏)2.]

4. (HKMO 2012 Group Event)

1 1 1 1 1
Evaluate + + +⋯+ + .
√2012+√2011 √2011+√2010 √2010+√2009 √3+√2 √2+√1

(Answer can be expressed in surd form.)

(2) Pythagoras’ Theorem

5. (HKMO 1990 Individual Event)

In the figure, ∠𝐶 = 90°, 𝐴𝐷 = 𝐷𝐵 and 𝐷𝐸 is perpendicular to 𝐴𝐵. If 𝐴𝐵 = 20 and 𝐴𝐶 = 12,
find the area of the quadrilateral 𝐴𝐷𝐸𝐶.
6. (HKMO 1993 Individual Event)
X is a point on the line segment BCas shown in the figure. If AB = 7, CD = 9 and BC = 30, find the
minimum value of AX + XD.

7. (HKMO 1996 Group Event)

Find the value of x such that the length of the path APB in the figure is the smallest.

8. (HKMO 2006 Group Event modified)

The figure shows a rectangular box with dimensions 3 cm, 4 cm and 7 cm. An ant is crawling on
the surface of the box from point X to point Y. Find the length of the shortest path for the ant.

9. (HKMO 2003 Individual Event)

In the figure, AB is a diagonal of the cube and AB = √12 cm. Find the volume of the cube.
10. (HKMO 2006 Individual Event)
In the figure, ABCD is a square with side length equal to 4 cm. The line segments PQ and MN
intersect at the point O. If the lengths of PD, NC, BQ and AM are 1 cm and the length of OQ is
x cm, find the value of x.

Numerical Answers

Taking Square Root (without using a calculator)

Exercise 1 1. 42 2. 57
3. 89 4. 123

Exercise 2 1. 35 2. 111

Competition Questions

(1) Surds – Basic Operations

√2010
1. 12 2. 10 3. 2
4. √2012 − 1

(2) Pythagoras’ Theorem

5. 58.5 6. 34 7. 6
8. 7√2 cm 9. 8 cm3 10. √5