Surds ( )√ =√

These are irrational numbers which cannot be Multiplication of surds

expressed in terms of where a and b are Finding the product of two surd numbers is the
rational. Irrational numbers may be defined as same as finding the root of the product of two
square roots of prime numbers. numbers.
Examples are √ √ √ i.e. √ √ √
Expression of root of numbers in surd form Example 3
Example 1 Find the value of the following and give your
answers in the simplest form
Write the following as the simplest surds
(i) √ √
(i) √ ( )√ ( )√ ( )√
(ii) √ √
Solution (iii) ( √ √ )
(i) √ √ √ √ √ Solution
(ii) √ √ √ √ √
(iii) √ √ √ √ √ (i) √ √ √ √
(iv) √ √ √ √ √ (ii) √ √ √ √
(iii) ( √ √ )
Addition and subtraction of surds
Using Pascal’s triangle; the coefficients of the
This is done by expressing the surds in their
terms in the expansion (a + b)3 are 1 3 3 1
simplest form

Example 2 ( √ √ ) =

( √ ) ( √ ) ( √ ) ( √ )( √ ) ( √ )
(i) √ √ √
=( √ ) ( )( √ ) ( )( √ ) √
=√ √ √
= 162√ √
=√ √ √ √ √ √
Division of surds
= √ √ √
There are two types of division of surds;
(5 – 9 + 4)√ = 0
- A fraction whose denominators has a single
(ii) √ √ √ √
term such as , etc.
=√ √ √ √ √ √

= √ √ √ √

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- A fraction whose denominator has double (ii)
( √ ) ( √ ) ( √ )
√ √ ( √ )(( √ ))
terms, such as , , etc.
√ √ √ √ √ √ ( ) (√ )
- In both cases, first eliminate the surds from (iv)
√ √ (√ ) ( )
the denominator. The process of eliminating
surds from the denominator is called Set square angle (300, 450 and 600)
rationalization.
(a) Consider an equilateral triangle ABC of each
- In the first case rationalize the fraction by
side = a units
multiplying the numerator and denominator
by the surd term of the denominator. C
Example 4
a 300 a
Rationalize the following
600 600
(i) A B
√ D a
(ii)
√
(iii)
√ ( )
Solution
√
EC=
√ √ √
(i)
√ √ √ √ √
√ √ cos 600 = ; sin600 =
(ii)
√ √ √
√ √ √
(iii) tan 600= √
√ √ √

In the second case rationalize by multiplying the √ √

cos 300 = ; sin600 =
numerator and denominator by the conjugate of
the denominator. tan 600=
√ √
Note
(b) Given a right angled isosceles triangle ABC
(i) The conjugate a + √ is a - √ and that with equal perpendicular sides each of length
a units
a - √ is a + √
(ii) The product of a surd function and its C
conjugate is equal to the difference of two
squares. i.e. (a + √ )( a - √ ) = ( (√ ) ) 450
a a√
Example 5
450
B A
Rationalize the following a

(i) √
√
(ii)
√
cos 45 = sin450 =
0
√ √
√ 0
(iii) tan 45 =
√

solution Example 6

( √ ) ( √ ) Express without a surd in the denominator each

(i) ( √ )
√ ( √ )( √ ) of the following

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 √ √
(a) (d) * +
√
√ √
(b) ( ) (e) * +
√
6. Express the following in the form a +b√
Solution
√ √
(a) [ √ ]
√ √
√ √ √
(a) ( )( ) (b)
√
[ √ ]
√ √ √
√
√ √ √ √
√ (c) * √ √ +
√ √
√ √ √
√ 7. Show that ( ) ( ) =194
(b) ( ) ( √
) ( ) √ √
√
8. Express without a surd in the denominator
√ each of the following
√
√ √ (a) [2]
( )( )
√ √
√ √ √ (b) [-2-√

9. Express each of the following in the form

√
, where a, b, c and d are integers
√
Revision exercise (a) * +
√
√ √
1. Simplify (b) * +
√
(a) √ [4√ ] √ √
(c) * +
(b) √ [9√ ] √
10. Solve the equation
(c) √ √
√ √ √ [3]
(d) √ √ ]
11. Without using mathematical tables or
(e) √ [5√
calculators, find the value of
(f) √ [ √ ]
(√ ) (√ )
2. Simplify the following suds [1]
√
(a) √ √ √ [2√
(b) √ √ √ [18√
(c) √ √ √ √ √ Thank you
[23√ √ Dr. Bbosa Science
3. Given that 4√ √ √ √ ,
find the value of x [-14]
4. Find the value of the following simplifying
the answer as much as possible
(a) ( √ √ )( √ √ )[ √ ]
√
5. Express each of the following in the form
where a, b and c are integers
√
(a) * +
√
√
(b) * +
√
√
(c) [ √ ]
√

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