CM9 05 5.3_5.

2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 157

Surds
Syllabus outcomes
NS5.3.1 Performs operations with surds and indices
WMS5.3.1 Asks questions that could be explored using mathematics in relation to
Stage 5.3 content
WMS5.3.3 Uses and interprets formal definitions and generalisations when explaining
solutions and/or conjectures
WMS5.3.5 Links mathematical ideas and makes connections with, and generalisations
about, existing knowledge and understanding in relation to Stage 5.3 content

In this chapter you will learn to:

ndefine real numbers
ndefine a rational number
ndistinguish between rational and irrational numbers
nuse a pair of compasses and a ruler to construct simple rationals and surds on the
number line
ndemonstrate that
x is undefined for x
0, that
x  0 for x  0, and that
x is the
positive square root of x when x  0
nuse the following results (when x and y  0):
2
)  x 
(
x

x
2

xy
 
x
 
y

 
x

y


x



y

nuse the four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division) to simplify
expressions involving surds
2
nexpand expressions involving surds, such as (
3 
5 ) and (2 
3
 )(2 
3
)
a

b a
b
  c
d


and  
nrationalise the denominators of surds of the form c
de
f  g
h

nuse the index laws to demonstrate the reasonableness of the definitions for fractional
indices as: 1
 n
m
 n
x n 

x and xn 
x
m

ntranslate expressions in surd form to expressions in index form and vice2 versa

nevaluate numerical expressions involving fractional indices, such as 27 3
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 158

Rational and irrational numbers

The real number system consists of rational and irrational numbers.
a
A rational number is one that can be expressed in the form  , where a and b are integers and
b
b  0. Therefore all integers and fractions are rational numbers.

All decimals that either terminate or recur are also rational numbers because they can be
a
written in the form  , for example 0.25  14 and 0.3  13.
b
Conversely, every rational number can be expressed as either a terminating decimal or a
1 3 2 5
recurring decimal, for example 2  0.5, 4  0.75, 3  0.6 and 11  0.4 5 .
However, there are numbers that when expressed as decimals neither terminate nor recur.
These numbers are called irrational numbers. Every irrational number can be expressed
as a non-repeating decimal that keeps going indefinitely. The digits do not repeat in any
regular pattern.

Surds
One group of irrational numbers are square roots that cannot be written accurately as
decimals. These numbers are called surds.
Consider this right-angled triangle. The length of the hypotenuse is calculated by using
Pythagoras’ theorem.
2 2 2
x 1 2
5
2 1
x 14
2
x 5
x 
5
 2

The hypotenuse is exactly
5  units long. When we express this length in decimal form, we can
obtain only an approximate value. For example,
5  correct to:
p 2 decimal places is 2.24 Irrational numbers such
p 3 decimal places is 2.236 as
2,
3,
5 and
p 4 decimal places is 2.2361
7 are called surds.

It does not matter how many places we give—the value

will always be an approximation.

Although irrational numbers cannot have 1

exact decimal values, we can plot their
positions on the number line. This
construction shows how to draw lines of
length
2,
3,
4
,
5 … units.

It uses Pythagoras’ theorem in repeated

constructions of right-angled triangles.
0 1
2
3
4
5
Number line

158 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

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Examples
●
1 Arrange each group of numbers in descending order (from largest to smallest):
a
7 , 5,
6
 b 6,
20
,
51, 5.7
In descending order, these are:

20
 is smaller
a 5,
7
,
6
 b
51
, 6, 5.7,
20

5 
25, so it is than 5.7.
the largest number.

●
2 Between which two consecutive integers does
7
 lie?
2 2
2  4 and 3  9
7 is between 4 and 9.


7
 lies between 2 and 3.

E x e r c i s e 5A R AT I O N A L A N D I R R AT I O N A L N U M B E R S

■
1 Write rational (R) or irrational (I) for each number:
3 1
a 5 b 0.5 c
3  d 24
e
2  f π g 12 h
36

i 0.3 j 2 
5  k
4  
25
 l
17


■
2 Use a calculator to find an approximation correct to 2 decimal places for:
a
2  b
3  c
6  d
7 
e
11 f
17 g
29  h
41 

■
3 Between which two consecutive integers is each surd?
a
5 b
17 c
39 d
51

e
95
 f
26 g
79 h
205


■
4 Arrange in ascending order:
a
3 , 2,
2
, 5 b 3,
8
,
17
, 6 c
8
,
3
, 3,
15
 d
80
, 7,
60
, 9

■
5 a What is:
2 2
(6) ?
i ii (6) ?
b Write two possible values for the square root of 36.

■
6 When we write
x
, we mean the positive square root of x when x  0. So
9
3
and 
9  3. Find:
a
49 b 
81  c 
100  d 
169  e
25


■
7 a Which of the following do not have real solutions?

34
i ii 
37.5
 iii
51
 iv 
27
 v
0

b Explain why the surds you chose do not have real square roots.
c For what values of x in
x
 are there no real solutions?

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 159
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 160

■
8 A right-angled isosceles triangle’s two equal sides are each 1 unit long. One of these
equal sides lies on a number line. Use a compass and ruler to construct this triangle,
and then plot the following surds on the number line:
2 ,
3,
5,
6,
7
 and
10.

■
2
9 Find the exact length of a side of a square whose area is 53 cm .
‘Exact form’ means
■
10 Find the exact length of the surd form.
hypotenuse of this triangle. x
3 cm

5 cm

Simplification of surds
If one of the factors of a number is a perfect square, the square root of that number can be
simplified. The numbers 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36 and 49 are perfect squares; their square roots are 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
When simplifying surds, the following rules are useful:


a
a

ab
 
a 
b    (
a
)  a
2

b
b

Examples
●
1 Simplify:
a
50
 b
108

a
50
 
25
2  b
108
 
36
 3

25
 
2
 
36
 
3

 5
2
  6
3

●
2 Simplify:

 
5 243
a  b 
49 3


a 
 
5 5 243
   d  
81

49

49 3
9

5
 7
●
3 Simplify:
2 2
a (
5 ) )
b (2
3
2 2 2 2
)  5
a (
5 )  2  (
3
b (2
3 )
43
 12

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CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 161

●
4 Write as an entire square root:
a 2
3  
b 4
5

 
4
a 2
3  
3
  
16
b 4
5  
5


4
 3 
16
5 

12
 
80


E x e r c i s e 5B S I M P L I F I C AT I O N O F S U R D S

■
1 Write true (T) or false (F) for:
a
4  
9  
36  b
25
 
9
 
16

c
100
 
64
 
36
 d
81
 
49
 
121

e
16
 
100
 
400
 f
144

4
 
36


■
2 Simplify:
a
3 
2 b
5
 
3
 c
5
 
6
 d
6
 
6

e
8 
8 f
3
 
7
 g
18

3  h
20

5

i
50

5  j
5
  4
5
 k
6

2  l
72

18


■
3 Find the square of:
a
3  b
7
 c
9
 d
5

e
10 f 
2
2 
g 3
5 
h 2
6
i 3
10 j 
4
11 
k 5
7 l 
4
2

■
4 Simplify:
a
8 b
18
 c
20
 d
72

e
28
 f
90
 g
75
 h
98

i
112
 j
128
 k
125
 l
162

m
500
 n
192
 o
363
 p
243

q
6 
8  
3
r 3
6  s   2
7
3
7    3
2
t 7
8 

■
5 Express as an entire surd:
a 2
7  
b 3
5 c 
5
3
d 3
8  
e 5
10 f 
3
11
ab
 
a
 
b

g 4
6  
h 2
12 i 
3
16
j 3
7  
k 5
5 l 
8
10

■
6 Write in simplest form:
a 2
18  b 
3
8 c 
5
125
d 4
48  e 
5
72 f 
8
75
g 3
54  h 
8
24 i 
7
32 )  a
(
a
2

j 8
18  k 
3
128 l 
3
245

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 161
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 162

■
7 Write in simplest form:
a 3
50  b 
5
8 c 
4
72 
d 3
75
e 6
24  f 
7
32 g 
2
108 
h 5
27
i 4
48  j 
3
90 k 
2
52 l 
3
300
m 5
125 n 
7
45 o 
9
63 
p 4
56
q 3
20  r 
4
150 s 
6
180 t 
7
288

■
8 Simplify:
a
12
 b
24
 c
32
 d
40

e
44
 f
45
 g
96
 h
104


i 3
150 j
168
 
k 5
240 l
135


■
9 Express as an entire surd:
a 2
2  
b 2
3 c 
2
5 
d 3
5
e 4
3  
f 2
14 
g 2
12 
h 5
7
i 6
3  
j 7
2 
k 9
3 l 
8
5

Addition and subtraction of surds

Consider these expressions:

9
 
16
 and
9
  16
We can write:

9
 
16
34 and
9
  16 
25

7 5
This shows that
9
 
16
 is not equal to
9
. 16
Similarly:

49
 
4
72
49
  4 
45

5  6.7 (correct to 1 decimal place)
So
49
 
4
 is not equal to
49
. 4
From these examples, we can see that if a and b are two positive numbers:

p
a 
b
 is not equal to
a
 b
2, 3
2 and 5
2
are like surds.
and
p
a
 
b
 is not equal to
a
 b

5 and
7 are
unlike surds.
We can only add or subtract like surds.

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When each surd in an expression is written in simplest form, we can identify whether the
surds are like or unlike. So when adding or subtracting surds, follow these steps:
Step 1 Simplify each surd.
Step 2 Collect like surds.
a
 
a
  2
a


Examples
●
1 Simplify:
a 6
3  
3
  4
3
   3
2
b 8
5   7
5
  4
2

 
3
a 6
3   4
3
  3
3

  3
2
b 8
5   7
5
  4
2
  8
5
  7
5
  3
2
  4
2


5
  7
2


●
2 Simplify:
a
12
 
27
 
3
 b
128
 
98
 
50


a
12
 
27
 
3

12
 
4 3
27
 
9 3
 2
3
  3
3
 
3
 
4
 
3
 
9
 
3

 4
3
  2
3
  3
3


b
128
 
98
 
50

128
 
64 2
98
 
49
 2
 8
2
  7
2
  5
2
 
64
 
2 
49
 
2
 10
2
  8
2
  7
2


50
 
25
 2

25
 
2
 5
2


E x e r c i s e 5C ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF SURDS

■
1 Choose the like terms in each group:
a 3
2 , 2
3 , 3
3  b 3
5 ,
7
, 2
5  , 2
a
c 5
7 ,
a
d 5
5 , 3
3 , 7
5  e 8
3 , 6
3, 3
6 , 3
n
f 5
m , 6
m
g 5, 5
2 , 3
3 , 3
2 h 3
7 , 7
3, 5
3, 7
7
i 5
a , a
5 , 3
a , 3
5
 j 2
11 , 11
m , 6
m , 5
11


■
2 Simplify:
As in algebra, only like surds
a 3
7   5
7 b
10
  5
10
 can be added or subtracted.
c 2
14  3
14   7
5
d 12
5 
e 15
p   8
p f   13
2
6
2 
g 5
6   4
6   5
2
h 8
2   7
2

i   6
3
5
3   9
3
 j   2
3
6
3   5
2

  2
13
k 8
13   9
13
 l   9  8
2
7
2 8

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 163
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 164

■
3 Simplify:
a
8  3
2
 b
27
  5
3
 c
45
  6
5
 d
18
 
50

e
27
 
48
 f
12
 
75
 g
45
 
80
 h
72
 
32

i
18
 
32
 j
63
 
28
 k
24
 
6
 l
112
 
63


■
4 Simplify:
a
8 
32
 b
18
 
50
 c
96
 
54
  
125
d 2
5 
e
20
 
45 f
96
 
24
 g
75
 
27
 h
98
 
32

i
180
 
80  j   3
32
6
50    3
75
k 5
48    3
20
l 8
45 
m 6
63  2
112
 n   7
12
2
108 

■
5 Simplify:
a
27
 
18  2
3  
28
b 2
7  
63

Write the surds in
c
3  3
75
  5
48
  
96
d 4
6  
54
 simplest form before
e 8
3   2
27
 
45
 f  
60
5
15  
48
 adding or subtracting.

g 2
50  3
18
  5
3 h
150
 
600

i 2
6  
54
 
96
 j   3
50
5
32   7
18
k
80
  3
45  2
20
 l
128
  5
200  3
75
n
   3
a
3 2
m 2
63  3
28
 
112
 a  2
a
o
 p

x 

3 4 3
m 
m  
9m
 x 
16x


■
6 Simplify:
a 5
2  
8
 
18
 b
12
 
32
 
8
 c  
27
6
3  
48

d 3
50  2
18
 
2 e
20
  3
5
 
8
 f
28
  3
7 
63

g 2
3  
48
 
27
 h
54
 
24
  3
6
 i
98
 
8 
18

j
50
  8
2  
72
 k
12
  7
3
 
108
 l
125
 
80  7
5

■
7 Simplify:
a 3
2   5
6
 
24
 b
12
  3
2
 
32
 c
72
 
162
  7
2 
d 8
54  3
24
   2
12
e 3
48  
3
 f   3
2
5
8  
18

g 3
6  
96
  5
24
   9
18
h 5
32   3
2
 i
75
 
48
  7
3
j
48
  3
12  5
3   3
80
k 4
125  l
128
 
18  7
2

■
8 Write true (T) or false (F) for:
a
16 
36  46 b
16
 
36
  4 
36

c
16 
36  
16 6 d
16
 
36
 
16
6  3
e
36 
16 64 f
36
 
16
 
36
6  1

■
9 Use your calculator to prove that:
a
25 
49 

25 9  4 b
64
1  8

64
 
81

c
121
 
100 

121   100 d
169
 
144

169
 
144


■
1
10   5
12
a If x
3  
48
4 , what is the value of x?
3
b Given that y  2
3
, find the value of y  5y.

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Multiplication and division of surds

When multiplying and dividing surds, use these rules:

a
 
b
 
ab

2
)  a

a

b
(
a a
 

b


Examples
●
1 Simplify: Remember:
a
7 
3  b
3
 
8

a
 
b
 
a b
c 2
7   7
2   8
3
d 5
3  
ab


a
7
 
3
 
7
 3 b
3
 
8
 
3
 8

21
 
24


4
 6

4
 
6

 2
6

c   7
2
2
7   2  7 
7
 2   8
3
d 5
3   5  8 
3
 
3

2
 14
14
  40(
3
)
 40  3 Remember:
2
 120 )  a
(
a

●
2 Simplify:
a
48

3  b
75

15



48

75
a
48
   

3 b
75
   

15

3

15
Remember:
 
48 75
   
a

3 15 a
  

b b

16
 
5

4

●
3 Expand and simplify
3
(
2
 
5
).

3
(
2
 
5
) 
3
 
2
 
3
 
5


6
 
15


E x e r c i s e 5D M U LT I P L I C AT I O N A N D D I V I S I O N O F S U R D S

■
1 Simplify:
a
5
 
2
 b
3
 
4
 c
5
 
5
 d
2
 
6

e
2
 
3
 f
9
 
16
 g
3
 
12
   3
2
h 2
3 
2
i   3
8
4
2  j )
(5
3   5
2
k 3
5  l   2
7
6
3 

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 165
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■
2 Simplify:

a 5
2
2
 
b 8
3 8 c 
6
5 
2
5 
d 2
3 
2
3
e
8
 2 f
12

3
 g
15

5
 
h 70
10 
7
10
i
80
 8 j
48

3
 k
75

3
 l
98
 7

■
3 Write in simplest surd form:
a
2
 
5
 b
3
 
7
 c
3
 
11
 d
2

32

e
2
 
10
 f
3
 
15
 g
3
 
6
 h
5
 
8

i
3
 
27
 j
7
 
4
 k
5
 
5
 l
16
 
3

m
12
 
5
 n
8
 
8
 o
28
 
3
 p
32
 
8


■
4 Simplify:
  5
8
a 2
3    5
6
b 3
2  c   3
5
4
5    3
10
d 6
2 
  2
15
e 3
5  f   2
6
4
3    6
14
g 5
2    2
8
h 3
6 
i   5
2
9
2  j  
14
3
7    3
8
k 6
2  l   5
5
2
18 

■
5 Simplify:
a
24

6
 b
18

2



a
b
a
c
48
 4 d
32

8
  

b

e
15

3
 f
72

2

g
20

5
 h
28

7

i
36
 6 j
40

10

k
52
 2 l
54

6


■
6 Simplify:

a 8
11
11
 
b 25
3 
5
3 c 
50
7
7
 
d 18
8 
2
8
e
50
 5 f
27

9
 
g 10
18 
5
2 
h 28
5 
7
5
i
24

3
 j
54

2
 k
96

2
 l 
25
21 
5
7

■
7 Simplify:
  5
2
a 2
3    4
5
b 2
3  c 5
6
  3
3   2
7
d 3
5 
  3
2
e 2
2  f   2
6
4
5   
10
g 3
10    6
3
h 4
3 
i   2
2
2
2  j   3
2
4
12    2
3
k 8
2  l  
12
2
9 
  5
3
m 3
5    3
3
n 6
3   
20
o 2
5    4
a
p 3
a 

■
8 Simplify:
2
  3
2
a 2
3  
2
 b
48
  3
3
 2
)  a
(
a
c
3
 
8
 
27
   3
8
d 2
5 2
  2
3
e 5
3  
2
 f  
3
6
2   2
3

  5  2
3
g 8
2    3
5
h 5
6   2
2

  3
x

2 2
i   (2
3
3
3 ) j   2
x
8
x

166 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

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■
9 Simplify:
a
3 
48
  
24
b 3
2  c  
32
5
2  d
48
 
12

e 24
5  8
5 f  3
3
27
27  g
125

5  h
243
 
3
3
i 7
12  3
2
 j  
20
6
5  k
18
 
8 l   6
3
3
6 

■
10 Expand and simplify (where possible):
a
2(
3 
5) b
2 (
4 
6
) c
3
(2
3  2)
d
3(
2 
3) e
2 (3
2 
2
) f
5
(2
5 
3 )
g 2
2(
3 
5) h 3
5 (
2 
3
) i (
3
4
3  
5 )
j 2
7(
7 
3) k 3
2 (
2 
9
) l
5
(9  5
5)

■
11 Expand and simplify:
a 2
2(
5  3
2 ) (
3
b 7
3   2
3
)
ab
 
a
 
b

c 2
6(2
6  2
3 ) (
2
d 3
3   3
3
)
e 5
5(
3  3
5 ) f (3
5
4
5   3
2)
g
x(
x  3) h
a
(3
a
 
a
)
i 3
y(3
y  5
x ) j (
x
4
3   2
3
)
Multiply each term inside the
k 2
x(3
x  2) l (
ax
a
x  
x) grouping symbols by the term
outside the grouping symbols.

Binomial products
A monomial is an expression consisting of one term only, for example 3x, 4y,
3
 and 5
2
.

A binomial is an expression consisting of two terms, for example 5x  2, 3y  7, 3
2

9
and 2
7  8
3 .

A binomial product is the product of binomial expressions. Examples of binomial products

are (a  4)(3a  2), (
2
 
3)(
5 
7 ) and (2
3  5)(4
3  6
2 ).
The distributive law states that a(b  c)  ab  ac where a, b and c are real numbers. For
example, to expand
2 (
3 
5 ) we write:

2
(
3
 
5
) 
2
 
3
 
2
 
5


6
 
10

Binomial products can be expanded by using the distributive law:

(a  b)(c  d)  a(c  d)  b(c  d)

 ac  ad  bc  bd

Note that each term in the first binomial is multiplied by each term in the second binomial.

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 167
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 168

Examples
Expand and simplify (where possible):

●
1   2)(2
3
(3
2  
2
)

●
2
2 (2  3
5
)

●
1   2)(2
3
(3
2  
2
)  3
2
(2
3 
2
)  2(2
3
 
2
)
  6  4
3
 6
6   2
2

●
2
2 (2  3
5
)  (2  3
5)(2  3
5)
 2(2  3
5)  3
5(2  3
5
)
 4  6
5  6
5   45
 49  12
5

Expanding binomial products can be easier if you use the FOIL method:
O
F

 
2
(
3 )(
5
 
7
) 
15
 
21
 
10
 
14

I
L
F  multiply the First terms
O  multiply the Outside terms
I  multiply the Inside terms
L  multiply the Last terms

Examples
Using the FOIL method, expand and simplify:

● ●
2
1  
3
(3
2 ) 2  
2
(
5 )(
5
 
2
)

●
2
1  
3
(3
2 )  (3
2
 
3
)(3
2
 
3
)
First
Outside
 18  3
6
  3
6
3 Inside
 21  6
6
 Last

●
2  
2
(
5 )(
5
 
2
)  5 
10
 
10
2
3

168 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 169

E x e r c i s e 5E BINOMIAL PRODUCTS

■
1 Expand and simplify (where posssible):
a (
5  4)(
3  3)  
3
b (
2 )(
5
 
3
)
c (
5 
3)(
7  
2 )  
5
d (
2 )(
3
  3
2
)
e (
3  1)(
2  5) f   5)(2
7
(
7   3)
g (3
2  1)(2
3   3)  
3
h (
5 )(
7   2)
i (
7  1)(2
7  
3)  
2
j (
5 )(2
5  
2)
k (2
3 
5 )(2
3  3)  

l (2
2 7 )(2
2  1)

■
2 Expand and simplify (where possible):
a (
5 
3)(
5  
7) (
7
b 2
3  
3
)
c (3
5  2)(
9   2
5) d (2 
3
)(3 
3
)
e (2  2
5)(4 
5 ) f  
5
(
6 )(2
6
  2)
g (
3  2
2 )(
5  2
3 )  
11
h (
7 )(
2 
3 )
i (
5  2
3 )(
3  2
2 )   2
2
j (
3 )(
3
  5
2 )
k (
3  5
6 )(5  2
6)   3
5
l (
7 )(
5
  2
3 )

■
3 Expand and simplify (where possible):
a (
7  2
3 )(
5  3
2 )   3
2
b (3
5 )(2
5
  2
3
)
c (
5 
6)(
3  
2 ) d (5 
2
)(5 
3
)
e (3
3  5
2 )(3
5  
2 ) f   5)(8
7
(3
7   4)
g (
5  3
2 )(
5  2
7 )   3
2
h (2
6 )(3
5
  2
2
)
i (
7 
3)(
5  
2 ) j   2
6
(
5 )(
2
 
3
)
k (3
2  2
7 )(
5 
7 ) l  
7
(
3 )(2
3
 
2
)

■
4 Expand and simplify:
2 2
a (
3  2)   3)
b (2
5
2 2
c (
3 
2 )   3)
d (
7
2 2
e (
5 
2 ) f  
2
(
7 )
2 2
  5)
g (2
11   2)
h (
3
2 2
i (3
2  5)   7)
j (2
3
2 2
k (7
3  4
2 )  
7
l (3
2 )

■
5 Expand and simplify:
2 2
a (3
5  5
3 )  
10
b (2
5 )
2 2
c (
7  2
5 )  
b
d (
a )
2 2
e (3
x  2) f   3
y)
(2
x
2 2
g (2
3  2)   5)
h (3
2
2 2
i (5
3  1)  
5
j (
7 )
2 2
k (3
5 
2 )   3
2
l (4
3 )

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 169
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 170

Conjugate surds
In algebra the formula for the difference of two squares can be developed as follows:
(a  b)(a  b)  a(a  b)  b(a  b)
2 2

(a  b)(a  b)  a  b
2 2
a  ab  
ab  b
2 2
a b
This formula can be applied to surds:
2 2 2 2
 
2
(
3 )(
3
 
2
)  (
3
)  (
2
) (7 
5
)(7 
5
)  (7)  (
5
)
32  49  5
1  44
Every time we multiply factors of this type, the result is a rational number.
Expressions such as (
3 
2 ) and (
3
 
2
) are called conjugate surds.
Each is the conjugate of the other.

a 
b  is the
conjugate of
a 
b .
Examples
●
1 Multiply each pair of conjugate surds:
a (
5   2)(
5  2) b   1) (3
2
(3
2   1)
2 2
  2)(
5
a (
5   2)  (
5
)  (2)
54 (a  b)(a  b)  a  b
2 2

1
2 2
  1) (3
2
b (3
2   1)  (3
2
)  (1)
 18  1
 17

●
2  
7
Multiply (4
3 ) by its conjugate.
2 2
The product of two
 
7
(4
3 )(4
3
 
7
)  (4
3)  (
7
) conjugate surds is always a
 48  7 rational number.
 41

E x e r c i s e 5F C O N J U G AT E S U R D S

■
1 Multiply each pair of conjugate surds:
a (7 
2 )( 7 
2 )  
2
b (
5 )(
5
 
2
)
c   1)(
11
(
11   1) )(
7
 
3
d (
7  
3)
  2)(
6
e (
6   2) f (5 
3
)(5 
3
)
 
5
g (
6 )(
6
 
5
)   2
3
h (
7 )(
7
  2
3
)
i  
6
(
11 )(
11
 
6
) j   1)(4
5
(4
5   1)
k (8  2
2
)(8  2
2
) l   5
3
(9
2 )(9
2
  5
3
)

170 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 171

■
2 Multiply:
a (3
7   2)(3
7  2)   5)(
12
b (
12   5)
c (8
7  
3)(8
7 
3 )   2
5
d (9
3 )(9
3
  2
5
)
e (
11 
7 )(
11
 
7 ) f  
3
(2
5 )(2
5
 
3
)
g (
8  
3)(
8 
3 )  
2
h (3
5 )(3
5
 
2
)
i (5
2  
7)(5
2 
7 ) j  
5
(6
3 )(6
3 
5)
k (7
3  
2)(7
3 
2 ) l   2
5
(11
3 )(11
3  2
5
)

■
3 Multiply each pair of conjugate surds:
a (2
3   1)(2
3   1)
b (5
2   3)(5
2   3)
c (
7  
5)(
7  
5 )
d (
13 
11 )(
13 
11 )
e (4
3   2)(4
3   2)
f (6
5   3)(6
5  3)
g (5
5   2
2 )(5
5   2
2 ) 2 2
(a  b)(a  b)  a  b
h (2
2  
3 )(2
2 
3 )
i (2
7   3)(2
7   3)
j (3
3   1)(3
3   1)
k (5
6   3)(5
6   3)
l (3
5   2)(3
5   2)

■
4 Simplify:
a (5
2  
3)(5
2  
3)   5)(8
3
b (8
3   5)
c (3
11  2)(3
11   2)  
3
d (5
7 )(5
7
 
3
)
e (6
5  
2)(6
5  
2) f  
5
(3
7 )(3
7
 
5)
g (5
6   2
3 )(5
6  2
3 )  
8
h (7
2 )(7
2
 
8)
i (9
3   4)(9
3   4)  
11
j (7
13 )(7
13
 
11 )
k (8
5  
3)(8
5  
3)   5
2
l (3
7 )(3
7
  5
2 )

■
5 Multiply each expression by its conjugate:
a
2 1 b
7  
3  c 1
2
2 7
d 2
3
e 5
6 2 f
7  
2  g 5 
3
  
5
h 3
7 
i 8
2   2
5  j
11  2
5   
3
k 7
3  l 6
4
5

■
6 Multiply each expression by its conjugate:
a 3
11  2
3  b 5
8  
2  c 5
2
3 3
d 3
5
e 6
2 1 f 5
7  
3  3
g 8
2 2
h 5
7
i 3
6 7 j 5
2 2 5
k 3
7 l 3
7
2

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 171
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 172

Rationalising the monomial denominator

When a fraction has a surd in the denominator, we usually change the denominator into a
rational number to make calculations easier. This is called rationalising the denominator.
We do this by multiplying the top and the bottom by the square root in the denominator.

Examples
●
1 Rationalise the denominator in:
5 3
7

a  b  c 

2 8
 2
8

5 5

2 3 3
7


7
2 
8 
a      b      c     

2
2

2 8
2 8
 2
8


8
2 
8 
5
2 3
2 
56

 2    8
8(2)
3
 2
4  14
   8

2 16
Multiplying by 

2 2
14
is the same as  8
multiplying by 1.

14

 4
1 1
●
2 Rationalise each denominator in the expression    and then

3
5
express it as a single fraction.
1 1 1
3 1

5
          

3
5
3
3
5

5

3
5
 3  5
5
3 3
5
   
15 15
5
3  3
5 
 
15

E x e r c i s e 5G R AT I O N A L I S I N G T H E M O N O M I A L D E N O M I N AT O R

■
1 Rationalise the denominator in:
1 2 3
5
5 7
a  b  c  d  e  f 

2
3
2
2
6
2
5
3  4 6
3 9 32 3
g  h  i  j  k  l 

7
12

6
x 2
2
7
6 5 7 2
7
m  n  o  p 

15

11

5
3

172 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 173

■
2 Rationalise the denominator in:
11
3
3
2 2
2
 3
5

a  b  c  d  e  f 

2
7
11
5

3

7
5
2  8
3 3
2 4
5 3

2 6
2
g  h  i  j  k  l 

3

7 2
5

3 5
7


5

■
3 Express with a rational denominator:
2
 3 7
2  3 3
2
1 3
5
a  b  c  d  e  f 

7
5 5
 3 5
 3
2 5
7
5 7 9
18 4

2
2
1
g  h  i  j  k  l 
2
 2 3
 3 5
 5
2 3
7

 5

■
4 Express with a rational denominator: Multiply the

3
2
5
 
3
  
7
3
2 
31 numerator and
a  b  c  d  the denominator

3
7

5
 2
3 by the square

5
1
3
  2
3

2
  2
5

5 
2
 root in the
e  f  g  h  denominator.

5
2

3

5

7
 
3
3
 
2

7
 
5

3  2
7

i  j  k  l 

2
5
 2

3
7


■
5 Rationalise each denominator and write each expression as a single fraction:
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 2
a    b    c    d   

2
5 
6
7
3
5
10
5
3 5 3 1 5 1
5 
2

e    f    g    h   

8
2  3
2
2 5
 3 2
 3
6 
3

1 1 3 5
7
2
3 
2
i    j    k    l   

2
7  5
2 3
 2
2
3
7 
1
 4

Rationalising the binomial denominator

2
To simplify fractions such as 

5

  2 , we can use the fact that the product of a binomial surd
and its conjugate is always rational. To rationalise a binomial denominator, multiply the
numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator.

Examples
●
1 Rationalise the denominator in:
2 1
7

a  b  c 

52 2 
3  
3

7 

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 173
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 174

2 2
5
2 1 1 2 

3
a      b     
2

5 2

5
5
2 2 
3
 2 
3
 2 
3

2(
5  2) 2 

3
 2 2  2 2
(
5)  (2) (2)  (
3)
2

5 4 2 

3
   
54 43
4
2
5 2 
3

   1
1
 2
5
4  2 
3


7

7

7
 

3
c      To rationalise
 
3

7   
3

7 
7
 
3

the binomial

7(
7 
3) denominator,
 2  2 multiply by
(
7)  (
3)
its conjugate.
7 

21
 
73
7 
21

 4

3
  3

2
●
2 Rationalise the denominator in  .

52


3  3
2

3  3
2

5 2
    

5 2
5 2

5 2
  3
2
(
3 )(
5
  2)
  2
)  (2)
(
5
2

  2
3

15   3
10
  6
2

  54

15
  2
3
  3
10
  6
2

  1

15
  2
3
  3
10
  6
2


E x e r c i s e 5H R AT I O N A L I S I N G T H E B I N O M I A L D E N O M I N AT O R

■
1 Rationalise the denominator in:
1 1 1 3
a  b  c  d 

21
31
5
1
2
1
5 2 3 8
e  f  g  h 

52
7 
5 
5
 
2
7
 
3
2 3 2
 7
i  j  k  l 
5 
3  5 
7 
3
 
5
7
2

174 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 175

■
2 Express with a rational denominator:
1 5
6 The product of a binominal
a  b  c 
2
38 1
3
2 4

6 2 and its conjugate is always
a rational number.
3 5 2
d  e  f 
2
7 
5   
3
3
7   
2
2
3 
4 8 6
g  h  i 
3
5  2
3    2
5
3
7    2
3
3
7 
5 3 4
j  k  l 
7
2  3
3    2
3
5
2    2
7
3
11 

■
3 Simplify:

5
2 4  2

5 4

7 2
5
 

3
a  b  c  d 

5
2 2
5 
3 2
7
1
5
 
3

2 

3
7
 

3 3

5 2 2

3 1
e  f  g  h 
2 
3

7
 
3
 3
5
2 2
3
1
5

7 3 8 17 5
i  j  k  l 
5
7
3 5 
3
  
3

11   
5
2
3 

■
4 Rationalise the denominator, then simplify:
7
5

13 

5
52 12 

2
a  b  c  d 
9  2
2

13 
5
 5

2 

3 3  2
2

5  3

3 2

3 

5
 5 1 2

3 5
e  f  g  h 
3  2
3
 3
2
 
5
 3  2

3 2
3
5
2

5 

3 5 5 3
i  j  k  l 
2
5
 
3
   2
3
3
2    2
3
3
7    2
5
4
3 

■
5 Rationalise each denominator, then simplify:
1 1 1 1
a    b   
3 
2  3 
2 
7
 
3

5
 
2

6 3
c   

5 
3 
5  
3


■
6 Given that x 
5  
2 , rationalise each denominator and simplify:
1 1
a x  x b x  x
2

1 1
■
7 Show that    is a rational number.
5 
3  5 
3 
3 5
■
8 Simplify    by expressing it as one fraction with a rational
2 
5  2 
5 
denominator.

■
9 Given that x  3
2
  1, rationalise each denominator and simplify:
1 1 1
a  b  c  2 
x1 x1 x 1

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 175
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 176

Square roots
■
1 You can use a spreadsheet or a graphics calculator to produce a graph of y 
x
.
p If you are using a spreadsheet, enter the values 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, … , 9.5, 10 into
column A.
In cell B1, type =SQRT(A1). You can copy this instruction for the other cells in
column B, so you generate =SQRT(A2) and so on.
Highlight the cells in columns A and B. Choose Chart on the menu, then XY scatter
and produce a graph.

p On a graphics calculator, choose GRAPH from the main menu and enter the
equation Y 
X . Then draw the graph.
In either case, your graph should look like this. y
a Why does the graph begin at the origin?
b Does the graph exist for negative values of x?
Explain.
c Does the graph exist for negative values of y?
Explain.
0 x

■
2 Iteration is a method that involves repetition of a process. You can use iteration to find
the square root of a number without using a calculator. Follow these steps to find
5 :
p Make a reasonable estimate for
5
. For this example, use the estimate 2.2.
p Divide 5 by your estimate:
5 2.2  2.272 727

p Because 2.2  2.272 727  5, the actual value of
5

 lies between 2.2 and 2.272 727.
Average these two numbers to find a better estimate:
2.2  2.272 727
  2.236 364
2
p Repeat the process.
5 2.236 364  2.235 772
2.236 364  2.235 772
  2.236 068
2
p As you repeat the process, you get better approximations. (Check that 2.236 068 is
indeed a very close approximation to
5 .)
Using iteration, devise a computer program, or a method to use with a spreadsheet, to
determine the following values correct to 5 decimal places:
a
2  b
3  c
7  d
90 
You may need to repeat the iterative process a number of times.

176 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 177

W O R K I N G M AT H E M AT I C A L LY

■
1 This diagram shows a method of locating
square roots on a number line. 1 1
a Explain how to construct these
triangles on graph paper using a set 1
square to construct the triangles and a √
⎯ 4 √
⎯ 3
compass to draw the arcs. √⎯5 √⎯2
b Construct this diagram on a sheet of 1
graph paper.
c Extend your diagram to show the 0 1 √⎯2 √⎯3 √⎯4 √⎯5
construction for
6. =2
d Use a ruler to measure the lengths
2 ,
3
,
4
,
5 and
6 on your number line.
How do these values compare with those obtained using a calculator?

■
2 This diagram is not drawn to scale. It shows the position Q
for
10
. The length QP is 2 units.
What is: 2
a the exact length of OQ ?
b the exact length of OP? √⎯1
⎯0
c the exact length of PR? P O R

■
3 This diagram is not drawn to scale. It shows the position Q
for
20
. The length QP is an integer value.
Give possible values for OP (which will be a surd)
and QP that will allow you to locate
20
 on the
⎯2⎯0
√
number line. How many such values are there?
P O R
■
4 a Use a 20c coin to draw this number line:

O 1 2 3 4

b Mark a point on the edge of the coin and place it at O.

Roll the coin carefully along the line. (You may use a ruler
to keep the edge straight.) Where the mark again touches
the line is the position of π on the number line.
c Can you explain why this method locates π ?
d π is an irrational number. Why is this?
O

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 177
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Fractional indices and surds

Indices can be written as fractions, for example:
m n
a a a
m n
1 1 1 1
    
a2  a2  a2 2
1
a
a
2
Also:
a
 
a
  (
a
)
a
1


a 2 
a

1
This means that if the index of a number is 2, we take the square root of the number.
For example:
1 1
 
16 2 
16
4 and 36 2 
36
6
Similarly:
1 1 1 1 1 1
       
a3  a3  a3  a3 3 3
1
a
a
3 3 3 3 3
Also:
a
 
a
 
a
  (
a
)
a
1
 3

a 3 
a

1
This means that if the index of a number is 3, we take the cube root of the number.
For example:
1 1
 3  3
273 
27
3 and 643 
64
4
1

p a means the square root of a or
a
.
2
So:
1
 3
p a means the cube root of a or
a
.
3
1
 n
p a means the nth root of a or
a
.
n

So the index law is:

a m 
a

1
 m

mn m n
Now: a  (a )
m 1 1
 
m  n   m
and an  a or an
m 1 1
 m   m
so a n  (a )n or (a n)
m
 n n

a n 

m m
a or )
(
a
So another index law is:

m

a n 

a
n m
or
m

a n  (
a
n
)
m

178 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

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Examples
●
1 Change to surd form:
1 2 1
   
a 812 b x3 c 15 2

1

2

1
  1
 1
3
a 812 
81
 b x3 
x2 c 15 2

152
1
 
●
2 Change to index form:
15

5 4

x3
4
a
32
 b c
10

1 1 1 1
4   

5  4 
a

32  325 b
3 3
x  (x )4 c

10
1

3

104 1
 x4  10
 
4

E x e r c i s e 5I FRACTIONAL INDICES AND SURDS

■
1 Express in surd form:
1 1 1 1 1
    
a 642 b 1002 c 1212 d 1442 e 1692 1
 m
1 1 1 1 1 m
     a
f 4 2
g 9 2
h 16 2
i 25 2
j 36 2 a
1 1 1 1 1
    
3 3 6 4
k 8 l 27 m 64 n 16 o x5
1 1 1 1 1
    
p y6 q (3p)4 r (9x)3 s (5x)2 t (8m)7

■
2 Write in index form:
a
5  b
7
 c
14
 d
38
 e
46

3 3 3 3 3
f
26
 g
115
 h
34
 i
61
 j
41

4 5 6 7 9
k
11
 l
37
 m
82
 n
19
 o
123

1 1
 4 
n y m
p
x
 q
p
 r
k
 s t

15

38

■
3 Evaluate:
3 3 4
a
9  b
27
 c
64
 d
64
 e
81

1 1 1
   3 5
f 42
g 25 2
h 81 2
i
216
 j
32

1

1
 1
o 
3 4
k
343
 l 8 3
m 15 n
625


16

1
p 
4 
6 7 3 5
q
64
 r
128
 s
125
 t
243



256

■
4 Evaluate:
4 5 3 2 3
    
a 83 b 92 c 16 4 d 325 e 100 2
3 3 1 2 1 1
 2   3   2 
f 6254 g (8 )2 h (36 2) i (83)2 j (9 )2
1 4 1 1 1 2
0    0  0   2
k (a )7 l (273)4 m (49x )2 n (81a )2 o (27 3)
5 4 2 1 1 3
 2  3     2
p (2 2) q (3 3) r (643)4 s (81)4 t (9 2)

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 179
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 180

■
5 Use a calculator to evaluate correct to 2 decimal places:
3 4 6
a
526
 b
320
 c
6
25  1 d
485

3 3
e
210.3
 f
510
 g
86
 h
10
5  3
4 3 3
i

86  5 j
98
 k
415
 l
825

4 5
m
5
36  8 n
15
 o
59
 p
328

4 5 6 7
q
963
 r
1
86  2 s
39
 t
8
58  3

■
6 Without using a calculator, simplify:
1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1
       9 
a 36 2  6  36 2 b 42  42  83  83 c (32)5 d (64 )2
1
27  3 6 4 8 3 6
e (64 )3 f )
(
7 )
g (
16 )
h (
8
1 3 1 1 1 1 1 1
0        
i 9  (64 ) 3 2
j 32  32 2 2
k 27  27 3 3
l 9  92
2
1 2
2   2
m
16
 
16
 )
n (
25 o 83  83 )
p (
49
1 1 2 1 1
 8    
2 2 4 3 3 2
q (9 )  ( 27 )  3 r 64 3
s (81 ) t (125 )

Some general number properties

‘The sum of 2 odd integers is even.’ This statement is true.

358 Just because it works for the

7  3  10 numbers you tried doesn’t mean it
31  65  96 will work for all numbers. What if
123  345  468 there is just one example out there
I’ve tried it with quite a few numbers that doesn’t work? Then the
now and they all seem to work. statement won’t be true for
So it must be true! all integers.

You can try as many examples as you like. It may just be coincidence that the examples you
tried work. In fact, it may work for most examples. The question is, how do you know it will
work for all integers?
How can you show that this statement is true?

Examples
●
1 Show that the sum of 2 odd integers is even.
Solution A
This method uses algebra.
If a is any integer, doubling it makes an even number. Adding 1 more to this
makes an odd number. So you can write 2a  1 to represent an odd number,
with a being any integer.

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You can do the same for another integer, b. Here 2b  1 represents an odd
number, where b is any integer.
This means that 2a  1 and 2b  1 are both odd numbers, regardless of
whether or not either a and b are odd. (You might like to try substituting a few
values for a and b to show that this is so.) Now:
2a  1  2b  1  2a  2b  2
 2(a  b  1)
It does not matter what a  b  1 add to, since double this result will always
give an even answer. So the sum of 2 odd integers is even.
Solution B
This solution does not involve algebra.
End digit of first number
Odd numbers end in 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9.
Draw up a table showing all
__1 __3 __5 __7 __9
possibilities for the end digits __1 2 4 6 8 10

second number
and their sums. End digit of __3 4 6 8 10 12
For example, if one number
__5 6 8 10 12 14
ends in 5 and another ends in 3,
when you add the 2 numbers __7 8 10 12 14 16
together the sum will be a __9 10 12 14 16 18
number that ends in 8.
As you can see, the end digit for any sum of 2 odd numbers is 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8.
These are all even, so all the sums are even.
Solution C
This solution uses geometrical representations. It is not as rigorous as the
previous methods.
Imagine even numbers as pairs of numbers, and
any odd number as 1 more (or 1 less) than a pair. 6 7
So 6 (an even number) is a pair of 3s, and 7
(an odd number) is a pair of 3s plus 1 (or a pair
of 4s minus 1).
Combining 2 ‘odd number’ geometric shapes, such as those given here, shows
that the sum of 2 odd integers is even.

●
2 Show that the sum of 3 consecutive integers is divisible by 3.
Let the first integer be a. The next integer is a  1, and the one after that is a  2.
Sum  a  a  1  a  2
 3a  3
 3(a  1)
This sum is divisible by 3. So the sum of 3 consecutive integers is divisible by 3.

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 181
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E x e r c i s e 5J SOME GENERAL NUMBER PROPERTIES

For some of these exercises you will need to think creatively about the proofs.

■
1 a If a is any integer, why is 2a even?
b If a is any integer, why is 2a  1 odd?
c If a is any integer, is 2a  15 odd or even?

■
2 If a is not equal to b and not less than b, what must be true of a, and why?

■
3 Can a
a be true? Why or why not?

■
4 m is an integer. Write down the next 3 integers.

■
5 p is an even integer. Write down the next 3 even integers.

■
6 q is an odd integer. Write down the next 3 odd integers.

■
7 Choose any 3 consecutive integers. Square the middle number, and multiply the
first number by the third number. What do you notice?
Try this for several groups of 3 consecutive integers. Does the relationship remain true
for these examples as well?

■
8 Show that for any 3 consecutive odd numbers, 6 less than double the largest number is
equal to the sum of the other 2 numbers.

■
9 Make each statement true by choosing either ‘odd’ or ‘even’ at the end:
a even  even  (odd/even) b even  even  (odd/even)
c even  even  (odd/even) d even  odd  (odd/even)
e even  odd  (odd/even) f even  odd  (odd/even)
g odd  odd  (odd/even) h odd  odd  (odd/even)
i odd  odd  (odd/even)

■
10 These diagrams show a way of subtracting an odd number from an even number:
i ii iii

a Describe what the diagrams show.

b Complete this statement: odd integer  even integer  … integer.

■
11 Use the table to show that the sum of
End digit of first number
an odd number and an even number
is odd.
__ __ __ __ __
__
second number
End digit of

__

__
__

__

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■
12 Use one of the methods shown in the examples, or your own method, to verify
each statement.
a The sum of 2 even integers is even.
b The square of an even integer is even.
c The square of an odd integer is odd.
d The product of an odd integer and an even integer is even.
e The product of 2 odd integers is odd.

■
13 Is the sum of 3 odd numbers odd or even?

■
14 Is the sum of 2 consecutive numbers odd or even?

■
15 a Is the sum of any 4 consecutive numbers odd or even?
b Is your answer still the same for the sum of any even number of consecutive numbers?

■
16 What can you say about the sum of an odd number of consecutive numbers?
(You might like to try a few simple examples to find out.)

■
17 Which type of numbers (odd or even) can be divided into 2 equal odd numbers? Why?

■
18 Is the sum odd or even when you add 5 odd numbers and 1 even number?

■
19 Explain each statement:
a Every combination of 3 consecutive integers includes at least 1 even number and
1 multiple of 3.
b In any combination of 3 consecutive integers, only 1 integer is divisible by 3.

■
20 These diagrams represent the first 5 odd integers.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

a What does the 15th arrangement look like?

b How many squares does the 43rd arrangement contain?
c What is the 65th odd number?
d Which odd number is 89?

■
21 These diagrams represent the first 5 even integers.

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th

a What does the 22nd even number arrangement look like?

b How many squares are in the 57th even number arrangement?
c What is the 93rd even number?
d Which even number is 126?

■
22 There are 1400 even 4-digit whole numbers where the thousands digit is odd and all
4 digits are different. Describe a way you can show this.

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 183
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 184

■
23 This table shows the sums of consecutive numbers beginning with 1. For example,
in the first column 1  2  3, 2  3  5 and so on. Similarly, in the second column
1  2  3  6, 2  3  4  9 and so on.

Sum of Sum of Sum of Sum of

2 consecutive 3 consecutive 4 consecutive 5 consecutive
numbers numbers numbers numbers
3 6 10 15
5 9 14 20
7 12 18 25
9 15 22 30

a Use the information in the table to write some generalisations about sums of
consecutive numbers. Then use these generalisations to test whether 36 is the sum
of 2, 3, 4 or 5 consecutive integers.
b Choose any integer less than 100. Check whether it is the sum of 2, 3, 4 or
5 consecutive integers.
c Extend the table to include the sums of 6 and 7 consecutive integers up to the sum
of 100.
d Show that the numbers that cannot be written as sums of consecutive numbers are
n
1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64… (all the numbers of the form 2 ).
e Are there any numbers that can be written both as the sum of 2 consecutive integers
and as the sum of 3 consecutive integers?

P R O B L E M S O LV I N G 5

■
1 64 is the only 2-digit number that has an integer square root and an integer cube root:
3

64
  8 and
64
4
Can you find a 3-digit number, a 4-digit number and a 5-digit number that has an
integer for its square root and cube root?

■
2 The Babylonians used a formula to make multiplication easier:
2 2
ab  [(a  b)  (a  b) ] 4
2 2
For example: 82  18  [(82  18)  (82  18) ] 4
 (10 000 – 4096) 4
 1476
a Use this method to calculate:
i 54  72 ii 36  14
b For what type of multiplications might the formula make calculations easier?

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CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 185

■
2
3 You can use a square or rectangle of area 1 unit to show that
1 1 2 1 3 1 4

2   2    2    2   …  1.
1 2 1 1 3 1 1 4 1 1
Notice that  2   4,  2   8,  2   16 and so on. –
8 1
––
1 16
–
a Explain how this rectangle is used to show this 2
1
relationship. –
4
b Show how you can illustrate that
1 1 2 1 3

2   2    2   …  1 using a circle.

■
4 An incircle of a triangle is a circle drawn inside the b
triangle so that it touches each side of the triangle.
a
The radius of an incircle of a triangle whose side r
lengths are a, b and c is given by:
c

(a  ba
 c)(  ba c)(  ba
 c)( )b  c
r   2(a  b  c)
a Show that for the right-angled triangle of sides 3 cm, 4 cm and 5 cm,
the radius of the incircle is 1 cm.
b What is the radius of the incircle of the right-angled triangle with sides 6 cm, 8 cm
and 10 cm?
c Calculate the radius of the incircle of the right-angled triangle
with sides 5 cm, 12 cm and 13 cm.
x
d Show that the radius of an incircle of an equilateral triangle
x
3 r
with side length x is 6.

■
5 The Bakhshali manuscript was discovered in 1881 in Pakistan.
In it there is a formula for calculating square roots:

 b  2a  2ba
2
b

Q
 
a  b  a    
2
2a 2a

For example,
31

 
 2
5  6 , so a  5 and b  6.
Using the formula:
6 6 2 6
  5  10   10 

31  2 5  10 
 5.567 857 143

Using a calculator,
31

  5.567 764 363, so the Bakhshali formula gives the result
correct to 3 decimal places.
a Use the formula to calculate:
i
43
 ii
110
 iii
250

b Compare your results with those obtained using a calculator. How closely do the
results agree?

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 185
 CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 186

Literacy
L
Li c
racy skills
kills
acy skillsills Literac y SKILLS 5

terminate rational irrational terminating

non-repeating recurring digits surds
approximation consecutive exact perfect square
monomial binomial product conjugate rationalise

■
1 The steps below tell you how to plot
2  and
3  on a number line, using units that are
literacy

3 cm long. Step 1 and Step 6 are in the correct place, but the other steps are not.
Rearrange these steps so that they are in the correct order, then follow this correct
procedure to plot
2  and
3 on a number line.
Step 1 Draw a horizontal line that is more than 6 cm long.
Step ? From this end point measure 3 cm along the number line and label this point 1.
Step ? With the compass point on 0 and using this new radius, draw another arc
across the number line.
Step ? Draw a vertical interval from the 1 unit point that is 1 unit high.
Step ? Label the left end point of this number line 0.
Step 6 Put the compass point on 0 and open the compasses to equal the distance
between 0 and the top of the vertical 1 unit interval.
Step ? Label this new point
3 .
Step ? Label the 2 unit point 3 cm further on.
Step ? With the compass point on 0 and using this measured radius, draw an arc
across the number line.
Step ? Draw another 1 unit vertical interval, this time from the
2  mark.
Step ? Open the compasses to measure the distance between 0 and the top of this
second vertical interval.
Step ? Label this new point on the number line as
2 .

■
2 Write a true sentence that includes both the term and the number (or expression) given:
a perfect 4 d square
11
b non-repeating
2 e binomial product 7 
2 
5
c conjugate  f entire surd 9
10
7 
2 

■
3 a Use the words ‘surd’, ‘fraction’ and ‘approximate’ to help you describe what it means
to write answers in exact form.
b Write a question that uses the word ‘exact’, then answer your own question.

■
4 John was talking about rationalising denominators to Julie and said that you must
12
multiply   by the conjugate of the denominator. Julie said that she was confused
6 
5
because doing this would change its value. Rewrite John’s explanation, making it clear
to Julie that when you rationalise the denominator, the value does not change.

186 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1

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Chapter review 5

■
1 Write rational (R) or irrational (I) for each expression:
4
a 7 b 2.5 c
3  d 2  5
7


■
2 Simplify:
a
72
 b
245
 c
96
 d
192

e
98
 f
275


■
3 Simplify:

   

27 242 108 128
a  b  c  d 
4 25 9 16
■
4 Simplify:
2 2 2 2
a (
5 ) )
b (
7 c )
(2
3 )
d (5
2

■
5 Express as entire surds:
a 2
5  
b 3
11 c 
4
7 
d 5
6
e 3
5  
f 5
7

■
6 Simplify:
a 5
2   3
2

2 b
8
 
12
  6
2
c
108
  5
3  
12
   3
54
d 5
45   6
6

e
500
 
20   
50
f 5
5   3
125
  5
2


■
7 Simplify:
a
7 
12
 b
9
 
6
 c
5
  2
3
 (
7
d 3
7  
3
)

■
8 Simplify:
a
48

8  b
72

6
 c
108

3
 
d 35
24 
5
6

■
9 Expand and simplify (where possible):
a (
7  4)(
3  2)   7)(2
3
b (2
3   4)
2
c (5 
2)(5 
8)  
2
d (
7 )

■
10 Expand and simplify:
2
a (
8 
2)  
2
b (
5 )(
5
 
2)
c (3
3 
2 )(3
3 
2
)   1)(
12
d (
12   1)

■
11 Expand and simplify:
2
a
3(2
3  5
7 ) b 2
3(3
2  5) c  
2
(2
3 )
2 2
d (
7  5)   3)(
7
e (
7   3) f  
3
(3
5 )

■
12 Rationalise the denominator in:
3 5
 24 2

3 5
a  b  c  d 

2
11

 3
7
3 15 5
 3
5
2
e  f  g  h 
3 
8 
7 
3 5 
3 
5
2

C H A P T E R 5 S U R D S 187
CM9 05 5.3_5.2 Final 12/8/04 11:23 AM Page 188

■
13 Rationalise the denominator in:
5 3 2 3
a  b  c  d 

7 2
 5
5 7
10
7 3
5   2
3

7 

3 3
5 

2
e  f  g  h 

32
5  2
3
7 
3
 3
5 
2


■
14 Simplify:
a
160
 b
675
 c
108
 d
3000


■
15 Simplify:
a
200
 
12
 
8
   2
27
b 5
48   3
72
  2
3

c
242
  5
18
 
288
   2
98
d 3
20   5
7


■
16 Expand and simplify (where possible):
a
5(2
3  3
7 ) b 2
3(2
2
 
5 )
2
c (5
3 
3 ) d (8  2
7
) (8  2
7
)

■
17 Given that x 
5
  2, find the value of:
1 1
c x  x d x  2
2 2
a 3x  4 b x
x
7
■
18 Express  as a surd with a rational denominator.
5 
6
■
19 Without using a calculator, find x:

45
 
5  
x

1 1
■
20 Show that    is a rational number.

7
 
5

7
 
5

■
21 Rationalise the denominator and express in simple surd form:
2
5
 
2




5 

2

5
1
51
■
22 Given that x   and y  , find:

3
 3
2 2
a xy b xy c xy d x y
1
■
23   1, what is the value of a  a ?
If a 
3

■
2
24 Find t in simplest form, given that t  (
3
 
2
) 
24
.

■
25 Find the values of a and b, given that a  b 
a
  b  10  3
2
.

188 C O N N E C T I O N S M A T H S 9 S T A G E 5.3 / 5.2 / 5.1