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7068 - Lesson Note 2

The document outlines the operations and simplifications of surds, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It provides examples and solutions for each operation, emphasizing the importance of simplifying surds before performing operations. Additionally, it includes an assignment section with various surd simplification problems for practice.

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6 views5 pages

7068 - Lesson Note 2

The document outlines the operations and simplifications of surds, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It provides examples and solutions for each operation, emphasizing the importance of simplifying surds before performing operations. Additionally, it includes an assignment section with various surd simplification problems for practice.

Uploaded by

www.lampteyjoseph744
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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OPERATIONS AND SIMPLIFICATION OF SURDS.

The operations with surds are:


i. Addition
ii. Subtraction
iii. Multiplication
iv. Division

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF SURDS.


Two or more surds can be added together or subtracted from one another if they are like or
similar surds. Before addition or subtraction, the surds should first be simplified, if possible.
EXAMPLE:
Simplify the following:
i. a 2 + b 2 ii. 2 3 + 3 3 iii. 15 3 - 2 3
SOLUTION
i. a√2 + b √2 = (a + b) √2
ii. 2√3 + 3√3 = (2 + 3) √3 = 5√3
iii. 15√3 - 2√3 = (15 – 2) √3 = 13 √3
We cannot simplify 3 5 + 2 3 as they do not contain surds of the same form.

MULTIPLICATION OF SURDS
The multiplication of surds obeys the basic rule of a  b = ab . We shall however need
to remind ourselves of some basic expansions of elementary algebra.
(A + B) (A + B) = A2 + 2AB + B2
(A – B) (A – B) = A2 – 2AB + B2
(A – B) (A + B) = A2 – B2
These expansions shall be applied from time to time while multiplying surds. We shall also apply the
known law of indices that ( a )2 = a

EXAMPLES: Evaluate the following surds:

i. (2 - 5 ) (3 + 5 )
ii. ( 3 + 1) ( 6 - 1)
iii. (2 + 4 3 ) (3 2 - 5)
SOLUTIONS

i. (2 - 5 ) (3 + 5 ) = 2(3 + 5 - 5(3 + 5 )

= 6+2 5 -3 5 -5

= 1- 5.
ii. ( 3 + 1) ( 6 - 1)

= 3 ( 6 - 1) + 1( 6 - 1)

= 18 - 3 + 6 -1

=3 2 - 3 + 6 -1
We must terminate our working here as there are no more common surds.

iii. (2 + 4 3 ) (3 2 - 5) = 2(3 2 - 5 + 4 3 (3 2 - 5)

= 6 2 - 10 + 12 6 - 20

= 6 2 + 12 6 - 30

DIVISION OR RATIONALIZATION OF SURDS


To divide any surd by another surd, we shall treat the problem as a multiplication problem.
A 1
This is brought about by regarding as A  .
B B
EXAMPLE
Solve, clearing the denominator of surds:
2+ 3 3− 2
(i) (ii)
3− 5 2 2 −1
SOLUTIONS

2 + 3 (2 + 3) (3 + 5)
(i) =
3 − 5 (3 − 5) (3 + 5)

6 + 3 3 + 2 5 + 15
=
9−5

6 + 3 3 + 2 5 + 15
=
4

3− 2 (3 − 2 (2 2 +1) (2 2 −1)
(ii) =
2 2 −1 (2 2 +1)

6 2 + 3− 4 − 2
=
8 −1

5 2
= =1
7

i. 3 √8 + √50
ii. 2 √27 + √75 - 5 √12
iii. (3 - 2 ) (3 + 2)
iv. (5 - 3 ) (5 - 3 )
1− 5
v.
2+ 3
SOLUTION

i. 3 √8 + √50 = 3 √4 × √2 + √25 × √2 = 6 √2 + 5√2 = 11√𝟐


ii. 2 √27 + √75 - 5 √12 = 6 √3 + 5√3 - 10 √3 = 11√3 - 10√3 = 1√3 = √𝟑
iii. (3 - √𝟐 ) (3 + √𝟐 ) = 3 (3 + √2 ) - √2 (3 + 2)
= 9 + 3 √2 - 3√2 - 2
= 7
Without much work, we could have simply written

(3 - √2 ) (3 + √2 ) = 32 – (√2 )2 = 9 – 2 = 7
iv. (5 - √𝟑 ) (5 - √𝟑 ) = 5 (5 - √𝟑 ) - √𝟑 (5 - √𝟑 )

= 25 – 5 √3 - 5 √3 + √9

= 25 – 5 √3 - 5 √3 + 3

= 28 – 10 √3

1− 5 (1− 5) (2 − 3)
v. =
2+ 3 (2 + 3) (2 − 3)
2 − 3 − 2 5 + 15
=
4−3
= 2- 3 - 2 5 + 15

ASSIGNMENT:
Simplify the following surds:

i. 5 2 +3 2 -2 3 x. (2 3 - 3) ( 3 + 2)

ii. 72 + 18 xi. (2 5 - 1) (2 5 - 2)

iii. 27 + 48
xii. (2 + 5 )(3 - 5
iv. 72 + 27 xiii. (3 – 7)2
131 + 37
v. 2 3 +1
xiv.
vi. 125 + 20 5− 3
vii. 75 + 12 1− 2
xv.
viii. 3 2 + 4 3 (2 3 - 3 2 ) 3 2 +1
ix. (2 + 7) (3 – 7)
2− 3
xvi.
2 3 −1
2 −1
xvii.
1+ 2 2
3+ 2
xviii.
5 2 −1

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