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1.1 Rationalizing Denominators

This document discusses rationalizing denominators by: 1) Multiplying the numerator and denominator by the radical term in the denominator to clear it. 2) If there is a two-term radical denominator, multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate to clear it. 3) The same techniques can be used to rationalize the numerator by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the numerator. 4) Examples are provided to demonstrate rationalizing different types of radical expressions in both the numerator and denominator.

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72 views1 page

1.1 Rationalizing Denominators

This document discusses rationalizing denominators by: 1) Multiplying the numerator and denominator by the radical term in the denominator to clear it. 2) If there is a two-term radical denominator, multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate to clear it. 3) The same techniques can be used to rationalize the numerator by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the numerator. 4) Examples are provided to demonstrate rationalizing different types of radical expressions in both the numerator and denominator.

Uploaded by

tokyosanime17
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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1.

1 Rationalizing Denominators MCV4U

• recall: Radicals are another name for roots.


• recall: Rational numbers (Q) are numbers that can be expressed as a quotient of integer
numbers (Z or I).
• Dividing by an integers is preferable to dividing by radical numbers, so if there is a radical
number in the denominator, we want to rationalize the expression to make the denominator an
integer.

• Multiplying radicals: √𝑎 ⋅ √𝑏 = √𝑎 ⋅ 𝑏

e.g. √7 ⋅ √8 = √7 ⋅ 8 = √56
• If an expression has a one-term radical in the denominator, then rationalize by multiplying the
numerator and denominator by the radical in the denominator.

𝑎 𝑎 √𝒃 𝑎 ⋅ √𝑏
= ⋅ =
√𝑏 √𝑏 √𝒃 𝑏
Example: Rationalize the following expressions.
2 √7 20 2
(a.) (b.) (c.) (d.)
√3 √6 9√5 √𝑥−1

• 𝑎 + 𝑏is the conjugate of 𝑎 − 𝑏, and vice versa


• If an expression has a two term radical denominator, then rationalize by multiplying the
numerator and denominator by the conjugate, then simplify. (Think DOS)
1 1 √𝒂+√𝒃 √𝑎+√𝑏
= ⋅ =
√𝑎−√𝑏 √𝑎−√𝑏 √𝒂+√𝒃 𝑎−𝑏

Example: Rationalize the following expressions by multiplying by the conjugate.


1 −2 √11 3
(a.) (b.) (c.) (d.)
√4−√3 √5+√2 √10−√8 1−√𝑥

• Note: In certain situations, it may be useful to rationalize the numerator instead. The same
techniques apply, just multiply both the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the
numerator.
Example: Rationalize the following numerator.
√𝑥−1−4
2

HW: Pg 9 #1-7

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