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Surds Notes: Adding and Subtracting Surds

Adding and subtracting surds treats them like constants, so 2√3 + 5√3 = 7√3. Simplifying surds looks for square number factors like 4, 9, 16 etc. to break the surd down, e.g. √50 = 5√2. Multiplying surds multiplies the numbers under the radical and simplifies if possible, so √6 x √12 = 6√2. Rationalizing the denominator of fractions with surds in the denominator multiplies the fraction by the surd to clear it, like √40/√10 = 2√14/14.

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176 views

Surds Notes: Adding and Subtracting Surds

Adding and subtracting surds treats them like constants, so 2√3 + 5√3 = 7√3. Simplifying surds looks for square number factors like 4, 9, 16 etc. to break the surd down, e.g. √50 = 5√2. Multiplying surds multiplies the numbers under the radical and simplifies if possible, so √6 x √12 = 6√2. Rationalizing the denominator of fractions with surds in the denominator multiplies the fraction by the surd to clear it, like √40/√10 = 2√14/14.

Uploaded by

Priyanka Garg
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Surds Notes

Adding and Subtracting Surds


We can add and subtract surds of equal value. Treat the surds as if they
were constants.

For example, 2x + 5x = 7x => 2√3 + 5√3 = 7√3.

Simplifying Surds
We can simplify surds if they have a square number factor.
Remember the square numbers to look for are:
4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 225, 400, 900, etc.

Examples
1. √50 = √25 × 2 = √25√2 = 5√2 2.√8 = √4 × 2 = √4√2 = 2√2

3. 2√98 = 2√49 × 2 = 2 × 7√2 = 14√2

4. √125 − √80 = √25 × 5 − √16 × 5 = 5√5 − 4√5 = √5

5. √27 + √75 − √12 = √9 × 3 + √25 × 3 − √4 × 3 = 3√3 + 5√3 − 2√2 = 6√2

Multiplying Surds
Multiply the numbers under the square root sign, then simplify where
possible.

Examples
1. √6 × √12 = √72 = √36 × 2 = 6√2 2. √3 × √3 = √9 = 3

3. √2 × √32 = √64 = 8 4. 2√5 × 3√5 = 6 × √25 = 6 × 5 = 30

Rationalising the Denominator


If a fraction has a surd on the denominator then the denominator is
irrational. We can rationalise the denominator by multiplying the fraction,
top and bottom, by the surd.

Examples
√40 √40 √10 √400 20 7 7 √14 7√14 7√14 √14
1. = × = = 10 = 2 2. = 2√14 × = 2×14 = =
√10 √10 √10 10 2√14 √14 28 4

4 4 √6 4√6 2√6 √5 √5 √10 √50 √25×2 5√2 √2


3. = × = = 4. = × = = = =
√6 √6 √6 6 3 √10 √10 √10 10 10 10 2

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