Math for College Readiness Name___________________________________

P.3.6 Rationalizing Denominators & Conjugates Date________________ Period____

If the denominator consists of the square root of a natural number that is not a perfect square,
____________ the numerator and the denomiator by the ____________ number that produces the
square root of a perfect square in the denominator.

Simplify.
5 6
2) 3) −
5 2

6 2
4) 5)
3 3

2 7
6) 7)
7 6

4 4
8) 9)
5 6

7 4
10) 11) −
5 7

12) NOTES: Radical expressions that involve the sum and difference of the
___________________________ are called conjugates. Conjugates are used to rationalize
denominators because the product of such a pair contains no ____________.

Multiplying Conjugates:

2 2
( a+ b )( a − b) = ( a) − ( b) = a − b
Simplify.

13) ( 5 + 1)( 5 − 1) 14) ( 2 + 5)( 2 − 5)

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 15) ( 2 + 3)( 2 − 3) 16) ( 5 + 4)( 5 − 4)

17) ( 3− 5 )( 3 + 5) 18) ( 2+ 7 )( 2 − 7)

19) NOTES: To rationalize a denominator containing two terms with one or more square roots,
_____________ the numerator and the denominator by the _________________ of the denominator.

Simplify.
2 5
20) 21)
5− 2 3+4 3

2 5
22) 23)
3− 5 4− 2

3 4
24) 25)
2+ 5 −2 − 2

3 5
26) 27)
3−2 3 −4 + 5

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