QA – Surds

SURDS
When the root of a rational number is not an integer it is called a surd. For example

√ √ √ √ √ are surds

√ √ √ √ √ are not the surds

All surds are irrational numbers, but all irrational numbers are not the surds. For example
are irrational, but not surds.

In √ the value of q is called the order of the surd and p is called the radicand.

Mixed Surds : The product of a rational number with a surd is known as a Mixed surd.

For , 3√ √ √ √ ( √ )

Pure Surds: A surd having no rational factor is known as pure surd.

i.e. √ √ √
Similar Surds: If the radicands of two or more rationalized surds are same, then these surds
are called the similar surds. For example, √ √ √ ( √ ) and √ ( √ )
Conjugate or Complementary Surds : Examples:

( √ √ ) and ( √ √ ) (√ √ ) and (√ √ )……… etc are the pair of

conjugate surds.
Only similar surds can be added, subtracted, multiplied or divided
Addition:

√ √ √ ;

√ √ √ √ √ √ √ .

8√ √ can not be simplified, because radicands are different.

Subtraction

√ √ √ ;
Multiplication: 31/4 61/2 91/3
= 33/1266/1294/12
= (336694)1/2
= (336694)1/12
= (27466566561)1/12
= (8264970432)1/12

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 1

QA – Surds

( )
Division: √ √
√ √ ( )

Example: √ √ √

OR √ √ √ √ √ √

OR √ √ √ √

LAWS OF SURDS

(i) √ √ √ and vice versa

√
(ii) √ √
and vice versa

(iii) (√ ) √ =

(iv) (√ ) ( )

(v) √√ √

Rationalizing Surds

Multiplying a surd with another surd to convert the denominator to a rational number is
called rationalizing surds

For example: ; If we multiply the denominator with √ , then the denominator will
√
become 2, a rational number, which is what we are trying to do. However we cannot just
multiply the denominator without multiplying the numerator with the same number.
√ √
So we will multiply with and the product will be
√ √

Examples:
√ (√ )
1) ; We need to multiply this number with and the product will be
(√ ) (√ )
√ (√ )
(√ )(√ )
√
√ (√ )
2) ; We need to multiply this number with and the product will be
(√ ) (√ )
( √ )(√ ) √ √ √ √
(√ )(√ ) (√ )(√ )
√ √
√
3)
√

√ √ √
As given
√ √ √

(Multiplying numerator and denominator by √ )

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 2

QA – Surds

( √ ) √
= √
√
4)
√

√ (√ ) (√ )
As given (√ ) (√ )
√

(√ ) √
= √

Thus (c) is the correct option.

Solved Examples:

1) Which one is smaller out of √ and √ ?

As given, √ ( ) ( )

And √ ( ) ( )

(Taking the LCM of Surd)

Hence √ √

2) Which one is greatest out of √ √ √ ?

LCM of 3, 4 and 5 is 60

As given √ ( ) ( ) ( ) √

And √ ( ) ( ) ( ) √

OR √ ( ) ( ) ( ) √

Since is greater than both and therefore √ is the greatest.

3) √ √ √
(a) p>q>r (b) q<r<p
(c) r>p>q (d) can’t be determined
In the previous question we have found that p is the greatest.

Again √ and √

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 3

QA – Surds

( )

( )
[( ) ]
( )
Thus q<r
Hence p>r>q, so, (b) is the correct option.

4) √ 

(a) 4 (b) 10 (c) 9 (d) 16

√ 
As given

7=x+3
x=4
Hence (a) is the correct option.

√
5)
√ √

√ √ √
As given
√ √ √ √

6) Arrange the following in descending order:

√ √ √ √ √ √ √
√ √ √ √
As given √ √ =
√ √ √ √ √ √

Similarly √ √ √ √

And√ √
√ √

And √
√

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 4

QA – Surds

As we know, if the numerator is same then the fraction whose denominator is larger the
fraction will be lower.

Since √ √ >√ √ >√ √ >√

Hence the correct order of descending is

(√ ) (√ √ ) (√ √ ) (√ √ )

( ) √ √ ( )
7) √
( ) √ ( )

(a)5-1
(b)5-3
(c)5-5
(d)None of the above

( )
As given √ =√

=√ ( ) ( )
√

Hence (b) is the correct option.

8) If m, n are the positive integers (n>1) such that m n = 125, then value of (m-n)n+1 is
(a) 625
(b) 81
(c) 16
(d) None of the above
mn = 125
And n>1
(5)3 = 125
Hence (m - n)n+1 = (2)4 = 16

9) √

As given, √ √ (√ ) (√ ) √ √ (√ √ )
( √ )

Therefore √ √ ( √ )

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 5

QA – Surds

10) ( )
√ √

√ √ √
As given, ( ) [( )(√
]
)
[ ]
√ √ √ (√ ) ( )

Proprietary and Confidential ABS Classes 6