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Surds
Surds
√𝑎𝑏 = √𝑎√𝑏
𝑎 √𝑎
√ = 𝑛
( √𝑎)𝑛 = 𝑎
𝑏 √𝑏
(√𝑎)2 = 𝑎 where 𝑎 ≥ 0
𝑏√𝑎 = √𝑏 2 √𝑎 = √𝑏 2 × 𝑎
Simplification of Surds:
Surds with bigger numbers can be simplified by extracting out a perfect square.
Example:
Rationalization of Denominator:
When the denominator contains just square roots, we could get rid of the square roots by
multiplying the top and bottom by surds:
When the denominator contains multiple surds/constant and surd terms, we multiply the top
and bottom by the conjugate of the denominator:
Conjugate of “1 − √3” = 1 + √3
2+√3 2+√3 2√3+3√2
= × Multiply by
Conjugate of “√5 − √3” = √5 + √3
2√3−3√2 2√3−3√2 2√3+3√2 Conjugate of
“2√3 − 3√2” Conjugate of “2√5 + 3√3” = 2√5 − 3√3”
2 + √3 2√3 + 3√2
= ×
2√3 − 3√2 2√3 + 3√2
2 2
=
(3−√2)2 32 −(2)(3)(√2)+(√2)2 Expand out the denominator
2 11 + 6√2
= × Multiply the top & bottom by the conjugate
11 − 6√2 11 + 6√2
2 11 + 6√2 We can multiply the top and bottom by
= ×
11 − 6√2 11 + 6√2 (3 + √2)2
Alternatively:
2 2 2
2 2 (3+√2) 2(3+√2) 2[32 +2(3)(√2)+(√2) ]
= × 2 = 2 = 2
(3−√2)2 (3−√2)2 (3+√2) (3−√2)2 (3+√2) [(3−√2)(3+√2)]
√3
Conjugate of “(1 + √2) − √3” is: (1 + √2) + √3
1+√2−√3
√3 √3 1+√2+√3 √3(1+√2+√3)
= × =
1+√2−√3 1+√2−√3 1+√2+√3 (1+√2−√3)(1+√2+√3)
Use (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏) = 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2
2
√3 + √2√3 + (√3) √3 + √6 + 3
= 2 2 =
(1 + √2) − (√3) (1 + 2√2 + 2) − 3
√3 + √6 + 3 √3 + √6 + 3 √2 Multiply by
= = × √2 (NO need
2√2 2√2 √2
Rationalize the denominator to multiply by
√2(√3 + √6 + 3) √6 + √12 + 3√2 2√2)
= =
2(2) 4
√6 + 2√3 + 3√2
=
4
2 3√54 15 14
Example 1: Find the value of 𝑘 when: ( − − ) = k√3
√2 4 √150 √294
Solution:
2 3√54 15 14
( − − ) = k√3
√2 4 √150 √294 Simplify the surds √54, √150, √294
2 3√9×6 15 14
( − − ) = k√3
√2 4 √25×6 √49×6
2 9√6 15 14
( − − ) = k√3
√2 4 5√6 7 √6 Rationalize the denominators
2 9√6 3√6 2 √6
( − − ) = k√3
√2 4 6 6
Simplify the like terms within the
2 17√6 brackets
( ) = k√3
√2 12
2 17√3√2
( ) = k√3
√2 6
17√3 17
= 𝑘√3 ⟹ 𝑘 =
3 3
Example 2:
2 2 2 2
Express ( ) − + (1 − √3) in the form of 𝑎 + 𝑏√3.
√3+2 3−√3
Solution:
4 2 3+√3 2
= 2 − × + (1 − √3)
(√3+2) 3−√3 3+√3
2
4(√3−2) 2(3+√3)
= 2 2 − + (1 − 2√3 + 3)
(√3+2) (√3−2) 9−3
4(3−2√3+4) 3+√3
= − + (1 − 2√3 + 3)
[(√3+2)(√3−2)]2 3
4(7−2√3) √3 √3
= − (1 + ) + 4 − 2√3 = 28 − 8√3 − 1 − + 4 − 2√3
(3−4)2 3 3
√3
= 31 − 10√3 −
3
31√3 31
= 31 − ⟹ 𝑎 = 31, 𝑏 = −
3 3
Example 3:
2+√3 2 2
2+√3 2−√3
By first expressing in the form of 𝑎 + √𝑏. Find the exact value of ( ) + (2+ 3)
2−√3 2−√3 √
Solution:
2
2+√3 2+√3 2+√3 (2+√3) 7+4√3
= × = = = 7 + 4√3
2−√3 2−√3 2+√3 4−3 1
2 2 2
2+√3 2−√3 1
( ) +( ) = (7 + 4√3) + 2
2−√3 2+√3 (7+4√3)
1
= (49 + 56√3 + 48) +
49 + 56√3 + 48
1
= (97 + 56√3) +
97 + 56√3
1 97 + 56√3
= (97 + 56√3) + ×
97 + 56√3 97 + 56√3
97 + 56√3
= (97 + 56√3) + 2
97 − 562 (3)
73 − 40√3
= (73 + 40√3) +
1
= (73 + 40√3) + (73 − 40√3)
= 146
If any one of 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑑 and 𝑒 are NOT rational numbers,
then the “equality of surds” cannot be applied!
Equality of Surds:
This rule is used in finding unknown constants by comparison of non-surd and surd form
respectively on both sides.
Example 1:
𝑎 7√3
By comparison (equality of surds) with 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆:
6 − 3𝑏 = 𝑎 --- (1)
3 − 2𝑏 = 7 --- (2)
Example 2:
2+√10
Find the value of 𝑝 and 𝑞 for which: = 𝑝√2 + 𝑞√5
2√5+3√2
When there is no unknowns for the
Solution: fraction term, FASTEST way is to
rationalize the denominator
We will rationalize the denominator on the 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆:
4√5−12√5+10√2−6√5 8√5+10√2
Simplify the surds (√20 and √50) = = = 4√5 + 5√2
2 2
𝑞√5 + 𝑝√2
Comparing with 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 ⟹ 𝑞 = 4 and 𝑝 = 5
Example 3:
6+4√3
If = 1 − √3, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are rational numbers, find the value of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
𝑎+𝑏√3
When there is unknown at the denominator, multiple the
denominator to the other side.
Solution:
6+4√3
= 1 − √3
𝑎+𝑏√3 Multiply the denominator over
= (𝑎 − 3𝑏) + √3(𝑏 − 𝑎)
𝑏 − 𝑎 = 4 ---(2)
Example 4:
Square both sides to get rid of the square root containing the unknown
9
If √𝑝 + 𝑞√7 = , where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are rational numbers, find the values of 𝑝 and 𝑞.
4−√7
Solution:
9 9 2
√𝑝 + 𝑞 √7 = ⟹ 𝑝 + 𝑞 √7 = ( )
4−√7 4−√7 Rationalize the denominator since the
denominator has no unknown
81 (4+√7)2
𝑝 + 𝑞 √7 = ×
(4−√7)2 (4+√7)2
81 (4+√7)2
𝑝 + 𝑞 √7 = ×
(4−√7)2 (4+√7)2
2
81(4+√7) 81(16+8√7+7)
𝑝 + 𝑞 √7 = = = 23 + 8√7
[16−7]2 81
By comparison, 𝑝 = 23 and 𝑞 = 8
Finding unknown in an Equation involving surds:
Knowing when to square both sides in a “surd equation” is Consider the “simple” equation:
important
(Squaring at the wrong time makes the question 𝑥 − 1 = 2 (𝑥 = 3)
unnecessarily complicated)
If we square both sides of the
equation:
Example 1:
(𝑥 − 1)2 = 4
Solve the equation: √3𝑥 + 4 − 4 = 1
Now we take the square roots on
Isolate the numbers and the surd both sides again:
term and the constants when there is
𝑥 − 1 = ±2 ⟹ 𝑥 = 3 or 𝑥 = −1
only 1 surd
√3𝑥 + 4 − 4 = 1
Isolate the surd on the 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆
√3𝑥 + 4 = 5
Square both sides to get rid of the square root
3𝑥 + 4 = 25
Example 2:
𝑥
Solve the equation: 2√𝑥 − 1 − 𝑥 + 1 =
2
Solution:
𝑥
2 √𝑥 − 1 − 𝑥 + 1 =
2
Isolate the surd on the 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆
3𝑥
2 √𝑥 − 1 = −1
2
2 3𝑥 2 9𝑥 2
[2√𝑥 − 1] = ( 2 − 1) ⟹ 4(𝑥 − 1) = 4
− 3𝑥 + 1
(9𝑥 − 10)(𝑥 − 2) = 0
9
∴𝑥= or 𝑥 = 2
10
9
𝑥= is not a solution since √𝑥 − 1 will not be defined (we cant square root a negative
10
number)
𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 2√2 − 1 − 2 + 1 = 1
2
𝑥 = 2 is a solution
𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 = 2 = 1
Example 3:
Bring one of the surd to the side of
Solve the equation: 1 = √𝑥 + 2 − √3 − 𝑥. the constant before squaring
Solution:
1 = √𝑥 + 2 − √3 − 𝑥
Bring the Surd form to the other side
√𝑥 + 2 = 1 + √3 − 𝑥
Square both sides
(√𝑥 + 2)2 = [1 + √3 − 𝑥 ] 2
𝑥 + 2 = 1 + 2√3 − 𝑥 + 3 − 𝑥
2𝑥 − 2 = 2√3 − 𝑥
Square both sides again to get rid of square roots
2
(2𝑥 − 2) = 4(3 − 𝑥)
4𝑥 2 − 8𝑥 + 4 = 12 − 4𝑥
4𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 − 8 = 0 ⟹ 𝑥2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0
(𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 1) = 0
𝑥 = 2 or 𝑥 = −1
Check your solution since there are multiple solutions:
𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆 = √2 + 2 − √3 − 2 = 2 − 1 = 𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 ⟹ 𝑥 = 2 is a solution
Example 4:
Without using a calculator, find the values of the integers 𝑎 and 𝑏 for which the solution of
𝑎+√𝑏 𝑎+√𝑏
the equation 𝑥√24 = 𝑥√2 + √6 is . [Why do we not substitute 𝑥 = 11 into the
11
equation? We will end up with an equation
Solution: which we cannot apply “equality of surds”]
𝑎+√𝑏
Since 𝑥 = 11 is a solution to the equation, we shall make 𝑥 the subject first and then
compare with the solution:
Rationalize the denominator
√6
𝑥√24 = 𝑥√2 + √6 ⟹ 𝑥 =
√24−√2
√6 √24+√2 √6(√24+√2)
𝑥= × =
√24−√2 √24+√2 24−2
6+√3 𝑎+√𝑏
Compare with gives: 𝑎 = 6, 𝑏 = 3
11 11
Example 1:
A cuboid has a square base of side (√3 + 1) m and the height and volume of the cuboid
respectively are 𝑥 𝑚 and (𝑥√48 + √12) 𝑚3 respectively . Find 𝑥, leaving your answer in the
form of 𝑎 + 𝑏√3, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers.
Solution:
∴ 𝑥 = 3 + 2√3
Example 2: (More Challenging)
1
= √𝑛 + 1 − √𝑛
√𝑛 + √𝑛 + 1
1 1 1 1
Hence, find the value of + + +⋯+ .
√25+√26 √26+√27 √27+√28 √99+√100
Solution:
1 √𝑛−√𝑛+1
𝐿. 𝐻. 𝑆 = = = −(√𝑛 − √𝑛 + 1) = √𝑛 + 1 − √𝑛 = 𝑅. 𝐻. 𝑆
√𝑛+√𝑛+1 𝑛−(𝑛+1)
1 1 1 1
+ + + ⋯+
√25+√26 √26+√27 √27+√28 √99+√100
𝑛 = 25 𝑛 = 26 𝑛 = 27 𝑛 = 99
= √26 − √25
+√27 − √26
+√28 − √27 = √100 − √25
..
.
+√100 − √99
∴ Solution = 10 − 5 = 5