Surds
1) Surds are irrational numbers
2) that are expressed using roots (like square roots or cube root number
or a fraction).
4) where the result cannot be simplified to
A rational number (a whole
they are roots of numbers that don't result in a simple fraction or a
terminating decimal.
Key points about surds:
Irrational Numbers:
Surds are a type of irrational number, meaning they cannot be written as a simple
fraction or a terminating (ending) or recurring (repeating) decimal.
Root Form:
They are typically represented using a root symbol (like √ for square root or ³√ for
cube root).
Examples:
√2, √3, ³√7 are all examples of surds because their decimal representations are
infinite and non-repeating.
Not all roots are surds:
If a root can be simplified to a rational number (like √4 = 2), it's not a surd.
Types of Surds:
Simple Surds: A single term under the root (e.g., √5).
Mixed Surds: A rational number multiplied by a surd (e.g., 3√2).
Compound Surds: The sum or difference of two or more surds (e.g., √3 + √2).
Similar Surds: Surds with the same irrational part after simplification (e.g., √8 and
√2, since √8 = 2√2).
Rules of Surds:
Multiplication: √a * √b = √(a*b)
Division: √a / √b = √(a/b)
Addition/Subtraction: Only similar surds can be added or subtracted.
Rationalizing the Denominator : A technique to eliminate surds from the
denominator of a fraction (e.g., multiplying both numerator and denominator by the
conjugate of the denominator).
Real Numbers:
Surds are a subset of real numbers, which also include rational numbers.
Importance:
Surds are important for expressing exact values in mathematical calculations,
especially when dealing with geometric problems or when simplification is needed.
