SURDS

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WHAT IS SURDS
MATHEMATICAL OPERATION

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 Real Number

Rational Irrational
Numbers Numbers

Integers Fractions Surds  

 
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WHAT IS SURDS
INTRODUCING SURDS
When the square root of a number, for example √2, √3 or √5,is
irrational, it is often preferable to write it with the root sign.
Numbers written in this form are called surds.
Can you explain why √1.69 is not a surd?

√1.69 is not a surd because it is not irrational.

This uses the fact that

= 1.3
MANIPULATING SURDS
When working with surds it is important to remember the
following two rules:

and

Also:

You should also remember that, by definition, √a means the

positive square root of a.
SIMPLIFYING SURDS
We are often required to simplify surds by writing them in the
form
We can do this using the fact that
For example:

Simplify by writing it in the form

Start by finding the largest square number that divides into 50.
This is 25. We can use this to write:
SIMPLIFYING SURDS
Simplify the following surds by writing them
in the form a√b.
SIMPLIFYING SURDS
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING SURDS
Surds can be added or subtracted if the number under the
square root sign is the same. For example:

Start by writing and in their simplest forms.

EXPANDING BRACKETS CONTAINING
Simplify the following:
SURDS

Problem 2) demonstrates the fact that (a – b)(a + b) = a2 – b2.

In general:
RATIONALIZING THE DENOMINATOR
When a fraction contains a surd as the denominator we
usually rewrite it so that the denominator is a rational number.
This is called rationalizing the denominator. For example:

Simplify the fraction .

In this example we rationalize the denominator by multiplying

the numerator and the denominator by
×

5 5
=
2
×
RATIONALIZING THE DENOMINATOR
Simplify the following fractions by
rationalizing their denominators.

2 3
1) 2) 3)
4

× × ×

2 2 3 3
= = =
3 5 4 28
× × ×
RATIONALIZING THE DENOMINATOR
When the denominator involves sums of differences between
surds we can use the fact that
(a – b)(a + b) = a2 – b2
to rationalize the denominator. For example:

Simplify
RATIONALIZING THE DENOMINATOR
More difficult examples may include surds in both the
numerator and the denominator. For example:

Simplify

Working:

=6 +1
MATHEMATICA
L OPERATION
PROBLEM &
SOLUTION
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