Yr 7 Accelerated Mathematics

Class Notes

Expressing Numbers
Part 3

Last edited: 13-01-2018

Year 7 Accelerated Math
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Simplifying Surds
Recall that surds have the radical sign or root symbol in it.

Even though surds are irrational numbers (meaning they cannot be

converted into a fraction) they can still be simplified.

To simplify surds look for squares in the surd.

Then take the squared number out of the surd.

Simplifying surds becomes important when performing operations on

them. You also need to perform these manipulations when the questions
tell you to simplify the expressions.

Examples

a) √24
g) √112

b) √700
h) √128

c) √256

i) √a5
d) √98

j) √(9x3 )
e) √18

f) √243

Hence, now work backwards an express these as a single surd:

a) 2√7 d) 5√54

b) 3√8 e) 3√18

c) 2√18 f) √8 × √14

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g) √8a2 × √14b4
i) 9ab√72b8 × √56a24

h) 3a√36b2 × √144a2

Surd Operations
Just like with algebra you must also learn how to perform the basic operations with surds.

Addition & Subtraction

The key thing to remember is that you can only subtract and add ​LIKE​ surds. It is also advisable to deal with
all surds in their simplest form.

Like surds mean that they have the same root in them.

Examples

a) √2 + √3

b) 3a√8 + b√2 _

c) b√32a2 b4 + √4a2 b4

d) a√8 − b√4

e) √75 − √125

f) √75 − (− 2√3)

Multiplication & Division

The two rules to remember in multiplication and division are as follows;

√x x √y = √xy

&
x
√x ÷ √y = √y

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Examples

a) √3 x √4 _____________

b) √3 x 3√2 _____________

c) 5 √8 x 2 √8 _____________

d) 5 √8 x √6 _____________

e) √96 ÷ √16 _____________

f) √32 ÷ √8 _____________

General Surd Problems

1. 3 √45 + √20 + √32 4. 2 √3a2 b2 c2 + 5 √3a2 b2 c2 - 3 √3a2 b2 c2

2. √3 ( √2 - 3 √3 )
5. 3 √2c2 + 5 √3c4 - 2 √2c2 - √3c4

3. √x ( 2√x + 3 √y ) 6.
√ 18a2 b2
a4 b4
+2
√ 8a4 b4
a6 b6
-
√
72ab
a3 b3

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4√3x2 ×√18y 2
7.
√12x4 y4
9. 55 ab√12a2 b2 − 42ab
√ 36a4 b4
a2 b2

8. 5ab√6 ( 3√6cd − 3√2ef )

General Number Properties

There are a great any number of proof questions in math. Here are two examples of special number proofs
which you should be able to show.

The Product of an Odd and Even Integer is Even

Let m be an odd number and n be an even number

m = 2k + 1

n = 2l

mn = (2k + 1) (2l) = 4kl + 2l = 2(2kl + l)

The Sum of Two Odd Integers is Even

m = 2k + 1

n = 2l + 1

m + n = (2k + 1) + (2l + 1) = 2k + 2l + 2 = 2(k + l + 1)

The Sum of 3 Consecutive Integers is Divisible by 3

k − 1, k, k + 1

k − 1 + k + k + 1 = 3k = 3×k

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