Rationalizing Denominators

2021
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RATIONALIZING DENOMINATORS

Definition 0.0.1 The process of eliminating or removing radicals from the

denominator of a fraction is called rationalizing denominators.

Note Rationalizing the denominators is done by multiplying a suitable

factor to both the numerator and denominator.

Case 1 If the denominator

√ is a monomial containing a radical of index n,
n n
use the property b = b.

Example 0.0.2 Assuming that all radicands are positive, rationalize the
denominator and simplify.

• √
5
1
(x+y)2

Solution:
p p
1 1 5
(x + y)3 5
(x + y)3
p = p · p =
5
(x + y)2 5
(x + y)2 5 (x + y)3 x+y

Example 0.0.3 Assuming that all radicands are positive, rationalize the
denominator and simplify.

2 yz 2
• √
3
25x
100x4 y 5 z 2
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Solution:
p
25x2 yz 2 25x2 yz 2 3
10x2 yz
p = p · p
3
100x4 y 5 z 2 3
102 x4 y 5 z 2 3 10x2 yz
p
25x2 yz 2 3 10x2 yz
= p 3
103 x6 y 6 z 3
p
25x2 yz 2 3 10x2 yz
=
10x2 y 2 z
p
5z 3 10x2 yz
=
2y

Case 2 If the denominator is a binomial or a trinomial

containing a radical of index 2, then the special product on
difference of two squares will be used. That is,
(u + v)(u − v) = u2 − v 2 .

Example 0.0.4 Assuming that all radicands are positive,

rationalize the denominator and simplify.

• √ 5 √
2 x−3 y

Solution:
√ √
5 5 (2 x + 3 y)
√ √ = √ √ · √ √
2 x−3 y (2 x − 3 y) (2 x + 3 y)
√ √
5(2 x + 3 y)
= √ 2 √
(2 x) − (3 y)2
√ √
10 x + 15 y
=
4x − 9y
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Example 0.0.5 Assuming that all radicands are positive,

rationalize the denominator and simplify.

• √ 2√
m−1+ −m+3

Solution:
2
√ √
m − 1 + −m + 3
√ √
2 m − 1 − −m + 3
=√ √ ·√ √
m − 1 + −m + 3 m − 1 − −m + 3
√ √
2( m − 1 − −m + 3)
= √ √
( m − 1)2 − ( −m + 3)2
√ √
2( m − 1 − −m + 3)
=
(m − 1) − (−m + 3)
√ √
2( m − 1 − −m + 3)
=
√ 2m −√4
2( m − 1 − −m + 3)
=
2(m − 2)
√ √
m − 1 − −m + 3
=
m−2

Case 3 If the denominator is a binomial or a trinomial

containing a radical of index 3, then the special product on sum
or difference of two cubes will be used. That is,

(u + v)(u2 − uv + v 2 ) = u3 + v 3
(u − v)(u2 + uv + v 2 ) = u3 − v 3 .
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Example 0.0.6 Assuming that all radicands are positive,

rationalize the denominator and simplify.

• √
1√
3 x+ 3 4

Solution:
√ √ √ √
1 1 ( 3 x)2 − 3 x · 3 4 + ( 3 4)2
√ √ =√ √ · √ √ √ √
3
x+ 34 3
x + 3 4 ( 3 x)2 − 3 x · 3 4 + ( 3 4)2
√
3
√ √
x2 − 3 4x + 3 16
= √ √
( 3 x)3 + ( 3 4)3
√
3
√ √
x2 − 3 4x + 3 16
=
x+4

Example 0.0.7 Assuming that all radicands are positive,

rationalize the denominator and simplify.

• 1√
5a− 3 3b

Solution:
√ √
1 1 (5a)2 + 5a 3 3b + ( 3 3b)2
√ = √ · √ √
5a − 3 3b 5a − 3 3b (5a)2 + 5a 3 3b + ( 3 3b)2
√ √
(5a)2 + 5a 3 3b + ( 3 3b)2
= √
(5a)3 − ( 3 3b)3
√ √
(5a)2 + 5a 3 3b + ( 3 3b)2
=
125a3 − 3b
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Example 0.0.8 Assuming that all radicands are positive,

rationalize the denominator and simplify.

• √
3
3w−2
√ √
9w2 + 3 6w+ 3 4

Solution:
3w − 2
√
3
√ √
9w2 + 3 6w + 3 4 √ √
3w − 2 ( 3 3w − 3 2)
= √ √ √ √ · √ √
( 3 3w)2 + 3 3w · 3 2 + ( 3 2)2 ( 3 3w − 3 2)
√ √
(3w − 2)( 3 3w − 3 2)
= √ √
( 3 3w)3 − ( 3 2)3
√ √
(3w − 2)( 3 3w − 3 2)
=
√ 3w
√ −2
3 3
= 3w − 2