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.

 

Examples

Simplify the following in its basic form (a) √45 (b) √98

 

Solution 

(a) √45 = √ (9 x 5) = √9 x √5 = 3√5

(b) √98 = √ (49 x 2) = √49 x √2 = 7√2

Examples

Simplify the following as a single surd (a) 2√5 (b) 17√2

 

Solution

(a) 2√5 = √4 x √5 = √ (4 x 5) = √20

(b) 17√2 = √289 x √2 = √ (289 x 2) = √578

(b) Let the square root of 14 – 4√6   be √P – √Q

The (√P – √Q)  =14 – 4√6

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