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Worksheet On Surds

This document provides information about surds: - Surds are irrational numbers that are the square root of a non-perfect square, such as √2. They can only be approximately expressed as decimals or fractions. - There are four main rules for working with surds: (1) (a)2 = a, (2) √ab = √a√b, (3) √a/b = √a/√b, and (4) a√b = √ab. - The document explains each rule and provides examples of simplifying expressions using the rules. It also notes that surd rules do not apply to addition or subtraction.

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402 views10 pages

Worksheet On Surds

This document provides information about surds: - Surds are irrational numbers that are the square root of a non-perfect square, such as √2. They can only be approximately expressed as decimals or fractions. - There are four main rules for working with surds: (1) (a)2 = a, (2) √ab = √a√b, (3) √a/b = √a/√b, and (4) a√b = √ab. - The document explains each rule and provides examples of simplifying expressions using the rules. It also notes that surd rules do not apply to addition or subtraction.

Uploaded by

mathsman9
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Worksheet on SURDS

1 What are surds?


When we take the square root of a rational number (i.e. an integer or a
fraction) sometimes the result is another rational number (e.g. 4 = 2), but
very often the result is an irrational number (e.g. 2, 3). hese latter
numbers are calle! surds.
"ur!s can only be approximately e#$resse! by a !ecimal or fraction. hat is
why, whenever we want an exact re$resentation, we sim$ly write them as
2, 3, etc.
2 Surd Rules
here are only three rules that you nee! to know when working with sur!s.
Rule 1: ( )
2
2
a a a = =
Rule 2: b a ab =
Rule 3:
b
a
b
a
=
%ote that these rules all assume that a & ' an! b & '. his is because the square root
of a negative number is un!efine!.
3 Explaining the Surd Rules: Rule 1
his rule (ust e#$resses the fact that squaring an! square rooting are inverse
o$erations ) that is, they *cancel+ each other out. ry it on your calculator,
think of number, fin! its square root, then square the result. -ou+ll fin! that
you always en! u$ back with the number you starte! with.
%otice that it !oesn+t matter in which or!er you !o the o$erations ) squaring
first, then square rooting, or vice versa ) you still en! u$ with the number
you starte! with.
3 Explaining the Surd Rules: Rule 2
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 1
his rule involves two o$erations, multi$lication an! square rooting. he
rule sim$ly says that it !oesn+t matter in what or!er you !o these o$erations,
you always get the same result.
-ou can easily see this with an e#am$le. ake two numbers ) say 3 an! ..
/irst, multi$ly them an! then take the square root of the result,
Multiply: 3 . = 0.
Square root: 0. = 3.1223133445
%ow reverse the or!er of the o$erations ) i.e. take the square root of the two
numbers first an! then multi$ly the results.
Square root: 3 = 0.232'.'1'15, . = 2.234'423225
Multiply: 3 . = 0.232'.'1'1 2.234'42322 = 3.1223133445
"ure enough, we get the same answer in each case6
Proof (Optional reading!)
o $rove this rule all we have to !o is $rove that the square of the 78" is
equal to the square of the 98".
( )
( )
( ) ( )
!" #$S
rule by ab
squaring of definition by b a
terms middle of order re%erse b b a a
b a b a
squaring of definition b a b a
b a &$S
rule by ab
ab #$S
2
2 2
2
2
2
2
) (
) 0 (
) (
) (
) ( ) ( ) (
) (
) 0 (
) (
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
4 Explaining the Surd Rules: Rule 3
his rule involves the two o$erations of di%ision an! square rooting.
:verything that was (ust sai! about rule 2 a$$lies to rule 3, $rovi!e! you
re$lace the wor! *multi$ly+ with the wor! *!ivi!e+.
5 What The Surd Rules Dont Sa
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 2
he sur! rules only involve the o$erations of squaring, square rooting,
multi$lying, an! !ivi!ing. here are no sur! rules involving a!!ition or
subtraction6
/or e#am$le,
2 2
4 3 + !oes %; equal 3 < 466 (=t equals . . 2. = )
"imilarly,

2 2
y x + !oes %; equal
y x +
66
his is the most commonly ma!e mistake when !ealing with sur!s, so watch
out for it.
! "nother #se$ul Surd Rule %&'( ) lied* There are +ore than 3 rules ,
What is 3 3 equal to> 'ns: 3. What about 2. 2. > 'ns: 2.. ?an
you see the $attern> =n general, we can say,
Rule 4: x x x =
his rule always works, even when the number is not a $erfect square. "o
you don(t nee! a calculator to fin! 2 2 6
)hy is this rule true> =t is true because of the very definition of *square root+.
/or e#am$le, the square root of 2 is the number that when multi$lie! by itself
gives 2. hat+s what *square root of 2+ means. "o, 2 2 must equal 2.
-ou will nee! this rule to answer questions 3 an! 4 below.
- .uestions
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 3
-ou may fin! the following results useful when answering question 0.
4 / 2
2
0 / 3
2
1! / 4
2
25 / 5
2
3! / !
2
40 / -
2
!4 / 1
2
11 / 0
2
122 / 12
2
121 / 11
2
144 / 12
2
1!0 / 13
2
0. Without using your calculator, evaluate the following sur! e#$ressions, using the
sur! rules wherever a$$ro$riate.
(a) 2. 3 (e) 43 43
(b)
43
0''
(f)
043
020
(c) 3 2. + (g)
4
3
(!)
1 2
3 02

Gary Pocock 12/06/14 4


2. @se sur! rules where appropriate to sim$lify the following e#$ressions. =f an
e#$ression 3annot 4e sim$lifie!, (ust write *cbs+.
(a)
2
4x (h) 2' 4
2
p
(b) 4
2
+ x (i)
04
3
2
b
(c)
3
2
a
(() ( )
2
2xy
(!)
2 2
b a (k)
( )
10
2
b a
(e) x 3 (l)
10
2 2
b a
(f)
2 2
2. q p (m)
2 2
4 02 x y x +
(g) c b a
4 4
(n)
2 2 2
2 1 y x x
(h)
2 2
2 2
d c
d c
+
(o) ( ) ( )
2 2
. 3 y x
3. @se 9ule 4 (an! other rules where a$$ro$riate) to sim$lify the following
e#$ressions.
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 5
(a) . . (g)
y x xy
(b)
2
2
(h)
x
x
1
2
(c)
03
03
(i)
3 2
3 2
+
+
x
x
(!) 3 3 3 (()
4
2
2

x
x
(e)
21
2 2
(k)
x
x
3
(f)
2'
2 .
(l)
x x
x x +
4. =n algebra, it is often more convenient not to have sur!s in the !enominators (i.e.
bottom lines) of fractions. 9ule 4 is very useful for removing sur!s from
!enominators. he metho! is sim$ly to multi$ly both the numerator an!
!enominator by the sur! that you want to remove. ("ee the answer to $art (a) for a
worke! e#am$le.) his $rocess is calle! rationalising the denominator.
9ationalise the !enominators of the following fractions.
(a)
2
.
(e)
x
2
(b)
. 3
2
(f)
x 2
4
(c)
3
2 4
(g)
1 2
2
x
(!)
0'
. 2
(h)
x
x

. 3
.
Answers
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 6
0. (a)
0.
. 3
2. 3
2. 3
=
=
=

(e)
( )
43
43
43 43
2
=
=

(b)
2
3
0
2
0'
43
0''
43
0''
= =
= (f)
03
00
043
020
043
020
=
=
(c)
4
34
3 2.
=
=
+
(g)
3
3 3
3 3
3 3 3
2 2
2 2 4
=
=
=
=
(!)
2
0
0
2
3
4
4
04
34
04
34
1 2
3 02
= = =
=
=

2. (a)
x
x x
2
4 4
2 2
=
=
(h)
. 2
) . ( 4 2' 4
2
2 2
=
=
p
p p
(b)
cbs
x 4
2
+
(i)
4
3
04
3
04
3
2 2
b b b
=

=
(c)
3 3 3
2 2
a a a
= = (() ( ) xy xy 2 2
2
=
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 7
(!)
cbs
b a
2 2

(k)
( )
3 10
2
b a b a
=

(e)
x
x x
3
3 3
=
=
(l)
3 10
2 2 2 2
b a b a
=

(f)
pq
q p
q p
.
2.
2.
2 2
2 2
=
=
(m)
0 3 2
) 0 3 ( 4 4 02
2 2 2
+ =
+ = +
y x
y x x y x
(g)
c b a
c b a
c b a
3 2
4 4
4 4
=
=
(n)
y x
y x y x x
2
2 4 2 2 2
4
04 2 1
=
=
(h)
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
2 2
d c
cd
d c
d c
d c
d c
+
=
+

=
+
(o)
( ) ( )
xy
y x y x
0.
. 3 . 3
2 2
=
=
3. (a) . . . = (g)
xy
y x
y x xy y x xy
=
=
=
2 2
(b) 2
2
2 2
2
2
=

= (h)
2
2 2 2
2
1
2
1
2 x x x
x
x x
x
x
= = = =
(c)
03
0
03 03
03
03
03
=

= (i)
3 2
0
3 2 3 2
3 2
3 2
3 2
+
=
+ +
+
=
+
+
x x x
x
x
x
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 8
(!) 3 3 3 3 3 = (()
2
2
2
2
2 2
2 2
) 2 )( 2 (
2
4
2
2
+

=
+

=
+

=
+

x
x
x
x
x x
x x
x x
x
x
x
(e)
0
2 2
2 2
2 4
2 2
2 4
2 2
21
2 2
= =

=
(k)
x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x x
x
x
= =

=
2 2 3
(f)
2
0
2
0
2'
0'
2'
2 .
= = =

(l)
x
x x
x
x x
x x 2 2
= =
+
4. (a)
2
2 .
2
2
2
.
2
.
= = (e)
x
x
x
x
x x
2 2 2
= =
(b)
0.
. 2
. 3
. 2
.
.
. 3
2
=

= (f)
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
2 2
2
2 4
2
2
2
4
2
4
= =
=
(c)
4 2
3
4 4
3
3 2 4
3
3
3
2 4
3
2 4
= =
= =
(g)
4
) 4 ( 2
) 4 ( 2
1 2 2
1 2
1 2 2
1 2
1 2
1 2
2
1 2
2

x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x x
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 9
(!)
2
.
2 .
.
2 2.
.
.'
0'
.' 2
0'
0'
0'
. 2
0'
. 2
= = = =
= =
(h)
3
.
) . ( 3
. ) . (
.
.
. 3
.
. 3
.
x
x
x x
x
x
x
x
x
x

or
2
2
2 2
2
2
2 .
. 2
0'
. 2
=

= =

=
Gary Pocock 12/06/14 10

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