SURDS

Rules of Surds

Surds are irrational numbers. They are the root of rational numbers whose value cannot be expressed as exact fractions. Examples of surds are: √2, √7, √12, √18, etc.

1. √(a X b ) = √a X √ b

2. √(a / b ) = √a / √b

3. √(a + b ) ≠ √a + √b

4. √(a – b ) ≠ √a – √b

Basic Forms of Surds

√a is said to be in its basic form if A does not have a factor that is a perfect square. E.g. √6, √5, √3, √2 etc. √18 is not in its basic form because it can be broken into √ (9×2) = 3√2. Hence 3√2 is now in its basic form.

Similar Surds

Surds are similar if their irrational part contains the same numerals e.g.

1. 3√n and 5√n

2. 6√2 and 7√2

Conjugate Surds

Conjugate surds are two surds whose product result is a rational number.

(i)The conjugate of √3 – √5 is √3 + √5

The conjugate of -2√7 + √3 is 2√7 – √3

In general, the conjugate of √x + √y is √x – √y

The conjugate of √x – √y = √x + √y

Simplification of Surds

Surds can be simplified either in the basic form or as a single surd.