SURDS

Definition 1: Any number which can be expressed as a quotient of two integers

( ), is called a rational number. Any real number which is not rational is called
irrational. Irrational numbers which are in the form of roots are called surds. For
example,, , , and are irrational numbers while , and can be expressed in
rational form.

Definition 2: A general surd is an irrational number of the form , where a is a

rational number and is an irrational number, while is called a radical.
 RULES FOR MANIPULATING SURDS
I. . This is the addition law of surds with the same radicals.
II. . This is the subtraction law of surds with the same radicals.
III.
IV.
V. =
VI. =
 BASIC FORMS
If the rational number under the square root sign contains a factor which is a
square of a number, the surd can be reduced to a simpler form. Such a simpler
form is called its basic form.

Example 1

a. =
= =
 BASIC FORMS
=
=
=
c. =
=
=

The transformation which reduces a surd to its basic form can easily be
reversed.
 BASIC FORMS CONTINUED
Example 2

Write the following basic forms in their single surd forms:

a. b. c. d.

Solution

b. =
=
= =
BASIC FORMS CONTINUED
b. =
= =
c. = =
=
d. =
=
=
 SIMILAR SURDS

These are surds which are multiple of the same surd. , , and are similar surds
because each of the surds is a multiple of .

Two similar surds can be added together or subtracted from each other.

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF SURDS

1. Simplify the following:

i. ii. iii.
ii. v.
SIMILAR SURDS
Solution

i. = +
= + =
ii. =

= =
 MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OF SURDS

1. Expand and simplify:

(a) (b)

Solution

a. =

= =
MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OF SURDS

b.
=
2. Simplify the following:
i. ii. iii.

Solution

ii. = =
MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION OF SURDS

ii. = =
iii. = =

CONJUGATE SURDS

Two surds are said to be conjugate of each other if their product gives rise
to a rational number. From the knowledge of difference of two squares, we
know that .
 CONJUGATE SURDS

Similarly, = = .

While and are not rational, their product is rational. Hence, and are
conjugate of each other.
 CONJUGATE SURDS

Example 3

Write down the conjugate of each of the following:

a. b. c. d.

Solution

b. The conjugate of is
c. The conjugate of is
d. The conjugate of is
e. The conjugate of is
 Rationalisation of surds
The process of converting a surd into a rational number is called the
rationalisation of surds. This is done by multiplying the given surd with a
proper auxiliary surd. In this case, the auxiliary surd is called the surd-
rationalizing factor of the given surd.

For example, . This process is called rationalisation.

Useful hints on rationalization of surds

(i) =
(ii)
(iii) The conjugate of .
 EXAMPLES
1. = correct to 3 significant figure.

Solution
= = = = 1.16 correct to 3 sig. figures
2. Express in the form
EXAMPLES
Solution

= =

⇒ ,.
EXAMPLES
2. Show that can be written in the form where a and b are integers.

Solution

= 18 + 6 + 6 + 2 = 32

= = =

= = =
EXAMPLES
3. Show that can be written as .

Solution

= =

= = =
 EXAMPLES
4. Show that can be written in the form , where a, c and d are integers. Find, in
terms of a, an expression for c and an expression for d.

Solution

= a

= =

= = . Hence, c = and d = .
THE ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

The general quadratic equation can be written

where a, b and c are numerical coefficients and x is the quantity to be found.

Dividing by a and transposing the term not containing x to the right hand side

The left hand side can be made into the perfect square by adding a term . If
therefore such a term is added to each side
THE ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
CONT.
=

Taking the square root of each side: = ..…………………(2)

NATURE OF THE ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION

Using the formula to solve the equation + + c = 0 we see that

Either or
Therefore, in general a quadratic equation has two solutions (called roots).
If is positive, can be evaluated and the equation will have two real and distinct (i.e.
different) roots.
THE ROOTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
CONT.
If is zero the equation is satisfied by only one value of and we say that it has a
repeated root or equal roots.
If is negative, has no real value so the equation has no real roots.
To summarize, the equation + + c = 0 has:
i. two real distinct roots if
ii. equal roots if
iii.no real roots if
In addition, is called the discriminant.
 Examples
1) Determine the nature of the roots of the equations:
(a) - + 3 = 0 (b) + + = 0 (c) - + = 0
Solution
(a) - + 3 = 0
Therefore,
i.e. .So the equation has two distinct real roots.
 Examples

(b) + + = 0
Therefore,
As is positive irrespective of the value of a, .
So the equation has no real roots.
 Examples Cont.
(c) - + = 0
+
As and are both positive,
Therefore, the equation has two real distinct roots.
 Examples Cont.
1) Find the value of k if - +8 = 0 has equal roots
For the roots of - +8 = 0 to be equal,

Therefore,
 Exercise
Solve the following equations by completing the squares.
1. - +4 = 0, 2. - +a = 0, 3. + - 8 = 0, 4. + +3 = 0
5. - + b = 0, 6. + + c = 0.

Determine the nature of the roots of the following equations but do not solve the
equations.
7. - + 9 = 0, 8. - + 10 = 0, 9. - + 3 = 0
10. + + 2 = 0, 11. - + 9 = 0 12. - - 9 = 0
 Exercise
13. For what values of k is + + 16 = 0 a perfect square?
14. The roots of - + 12 = 0 are equal. Find k.
15. Find a if - + a = 0 has equal roots.
16. Prove that + – (k – 2) = 0 has real roots for any value of k.
17. Show that the roots of the equation + (a +b) are real for all values of a and b.
18. Find the relationship between p and q if the roots of + = 0 are equal.
19. If is real and , prove that - = 0.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE ROOTS AND
COEFFICIENTS OF A QUADRATIC EQUATION
• Let and be the roots of the equation + + c = 0 ……………..(1)
• then .
•
• ………………………………………….(2)
Dividing + + c = 0 by a gives .
Compare equations (1) and (2).
Therefore, ,
The equation may be written as
 EXAMPLES
1. 1. The roots of the equation are. Find the values of and Hence, write down the
equation whose roots are.
Solution
Given we see that and
To evaluate as a si7xngle fraction gives
and
Therefore, the required equation has roots whose sum is and whose product is
So the equation is is
 EXAMPLES
2. If the root of are , find the value of the constant k.
Solution
Given , then
⇒
The roots of the equation are 4 and 3 i.e.
The required equation is
⇒⇒
Comparing with gives .
 Exercise
1. Write down the sums and products of the roots of the following equations:
(b) 0
(d)
 Exercise
2. Write down the equation, the sum and product of whose roots are:
(a) 3,4 (b) -2, (c) (d) (e)
(f) (g)
3) The roots of the equation are. Find the value of:
(a) (b) (c) (d)
SYMMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF ROOTS
A symmetric function is a function in several variables which remains unchanged
for any permutation of the variables.
If and are the roots of , then, and . are symmetric in the sense that if are
interchanged, either the relation remains the same or is multiplied by 1.
 SYMMETRIC FUNCTIONS OF ROOTS
=
=
=

=
 Examples
1. If and are the roots of , find the values of and.
Write down the equation whose roots are .
Solution
From we see that and
To express in terms of and we can use
Examples

.
As the required equation has roots, , the sum of its roots is
and the product of its roots is
Therefore, the required equation is
⇒.
 Examples
2. If the sum of the squares of the roots of the equation is 1, show that .
Solution
Let .
and
Given = 1
 Examples
⇒ =
⇒1=
⇒1=
⇒1=
⇒ =
Thus, QED
 Examples
3. If and are the roots of , prove that = .
Solution
=.
From the given equation , and .
Substituting
=.
=
= QED
 Examples
4. If and are the roots of , find the values of:
(i) (ii) ().
(iii) Hence form the equation and .
Solution

= and =
 Examples
(i) =
=
= =
(ii) =
=
=
 Examples
(iii) Sum of roots of new equation
.=
=
= =
Product of roots of new equation
=
 Examples
=
=
=
=
New equation is
⇒
⇒
 Exercise
1. Find the relation between if one root of the equation is three times the other.
2. If are the roots of the equation , form the equation whose roots are and .
3. In the relation one root is the square of the other. Without solving the
equation, prove that = .
4. If are the roots of the quadratic equation , obtain the equation whose roots are
and .
If in the above equation , prove that .