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