Secondary 3 Ednova

Prelim Questions: Surds and Indices

1 !!"#$ "!!"%$
(a) Find the value of 𝑘 and of 𝑡 if = 𝑘.
#×!"&

(b) Without using the calculator, find, in the form $𝑎 + 𝑏√3 + cm, the diameter of the base of
a cone of curved surface area 𝜋$9 + 4√3 + c𝑚' , whose slant height is
$1 + 2√3 + cm.

( +, '(
Ans: (a) 𝑘 = ,𝑡=2 (b) + √3 cm
)* )) ))
[AHS/2008/P1]
2 %- &/ ),
Given that .%- × ! = 𝑥𝑦 , find the value of 𝑎 and of 𝑏.
& '% /#$ (

Ans: 𝑎 = 11, 𝑏 = 4
[DSS/2008/P1]
3 ! &
(a) Express ! # in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√5 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers.
"#√%

)"#$ ")"%$
(b) Given that = 𝑎 201+ , find the value of 𝑎.
*"

Ans: (a) 14 − 6√5 (b) 𝑎 = 63

[FMSS/2008/P2]
4 The diagram shows an isosceles triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 𝐴
in which 𝐴𝐵 = 𝐴𝐶 = 8 cm and 𝐵𝐶 = 6 cm.
The line 𝐵𝐶 is extended to 𝐷, such that
𝐶𝐷 = 4 cm.
8 8
(a) Find the exact value of cos 𝐴𝐵𝐶.

(b) Show that the length of 𝐴𝐷 is 2√26 cm.

𝐵 6 𝐶 4 𝐷
+
Ans: (a) (
[BPGHS/2009/P1]

5 A right cylinder has a diameter of $2 + 2√2 + cm and a volume of $7 + 4√2+𝜋 c𝑚+ . Find,
without using a calculator, the height of the cylinder in the form $𝑎 + 𝑏√2+ cm, where 𝑎 and 𝑏
are integers.

Ans: 5 − 2√2
[Beatty/2009/P2]

6 + )
Given that can be expressed in the form $√𝑎 − √𝑏 + 𝑏+, find the value of 𝑎, 𝑏
',-√+(-√! '
and 𝑐.

Ans: 𝑎 = 2, 𝑏 = 6, 𝑐 = 2
[FMS/2009/P1]
Secondary 3 Math Academia

7 Without using a calculator, find the values of the integers 𝑎 and of 𝑏 for which the solution of
the equation

/-√0
2𝑥√3 + 𝑥√125 = 𝑥√45 + √12 is .
+

Ans: 𝑎 = −3, 𝑏 = 15
[CWSS/2010/P1]

8 1×!"%!
Simplify .
!" "!"%$

Ans: 1.5
[CWSS/2010/P1]

9 )
Given that 𝑝 = 3 − 2√2 , express 2𝑝' − 2 in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√2 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers.

Ans: 31 − 26√2
[SCGS/2010/P1]

10 Find the exact value of 𝑞 if 1253 = E125√5.

4
Ans: 𝑞=
'
[SCGS/2010/P1]

11 Find 𝑥 in the form 𝑎√2 + 𝑏√3 given that √18 + 𝑥√24 = 2𝑥 + √12.

+ '
Ans: 𝑥 = ), √2 − * √3
[AHS/2010/P2]

12 Express $2√3 − 3+' − '1√'4 in the form 𝑝 + 𝑞√3 where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are rational numbers.
'6√+

Ans: 8 − 4√3
[AHS/2011/P2]

13 ,"#√+
Given that the diagonal of a square is , calculate 𝑃' , where 𝑃 is the perimeter of this
*"*√+
square. Give your answer in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√2 where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.

Ans: 𝑎 = 56.5, 𝑏 = 36
[CHIJ(TP)/2011/P1]

14 A cone of base radius $2 − √3+ cm has a volume of 𝜋$5 − 2√3+ c𝑚+ . Express the height of
the cone in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√3 where the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏 are constants to be determined.

Ans: 33 + 18√3
[MS/2011/P1]
Secondary 3 Math Academia

15 (a) Simplify 6+76) × 871) × 34+71) .

(b) A rectangular block has a square base.
The length of each side of the base is $√3 − √2+ m and the volume of the block is
$4√2 − 3√3+ 𝑚+ . Find the height of the block in the form $𝑎√2 + 𝑏√3+ m, where 𝑎 and
𝑏 are integers.

Ans: (a) 2)*71* × 387 (b) 2√2 + √3 m

[TKSS/2011/P2]

16 If the length and breadth of a rectangle are + and '

respectively, find the perimeter of
+6√' +1√'
the rectangle and leave the answer in surd form.

+,1'√'
Ans:
4
[XMSS/2011/P1]

17 The side of an equilateral triangle is )

'√+6+
cm. Find the area of the triangle in the form 𝑎√3 +
𝑏, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers.

4√+
Ans: H )' − 1I c𝑚'
[VS/2011/P1]

18 The diagram shows a triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 in which 𝐴𝐵 = 𝑝√5 cm, 𝐵𝐶 = √45 cm and
𝐴𝐶 = 𝑝√3 cm. Given that the perimeter of the triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 is √125 cm, find the value of 𝑝
giving your answer in the form of 𝑞 − √𝑟 where 𝑝, 𝑞 and 𝑟 are constants.
𝐴

𝑝√3 cm 𝑝√5 cm

𝐵 𝐶
Ans: 5 − √15 √45 cm
[CCHM/2012/P1]

19 The solutions of the equation 𝑥 ' + 3 = √20𝑥 are 𝑚 and 𝑛, where 𝑚 > 𝑛. Without using a
' )#*√+
calculator, express in the form .
( "

46'√),
Ans: +
[TKSS/2012/P1]
20 A cylinder has a radius of $1 + 2√2+ cm and volume of $70 + 14√2+𝜋 c𝑚+ .
)#*√&
Find, without using a calculator, the exact value of its height, ℎ, in the form cm, where
+
𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are integers.

491''√'
Ans: 4
[CHS/2012/P1]
Secondary 3 Math Academia

21 )9
Given that O𝑝 + 𝑞√5 = +1√* , find, without using a calculator, the value of 𝑝 and of 𝑞.

) )
Ans: 𝑝 = 171 ' , 𝑞 = 73 '
[AHS/2012/P1]
22 !2 ! !
Simplify √162 + − + , leaving your answer in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√2, where 𝑎
√#2 !√+"* √+
and 𝑏 are integers.

Ans: 9√2 − 6
[XMSS/2012/P1]
23 (4:#$ )!
Given that = ÷ (𝑝)1'> 𝑞'76* ) = 𝑝)* 𝑞1? , find the value of 𝑥 and of 𝑦.
67;<

Ans: 𝑥 = −1, 𝑦 = 8
[CHS/2012/P2]
24 Without using a calculator, solve, for 𝑥 and 𝑦, the simultaneous equations

1
125'7 ÷ 25+> =
625
'>64
*7
3 !
81 ×S T = √243 × √3
√27
)
Ans: 𝑥= ,𝑦=1
+
[CHIJ(TP)/2012/P2]

25 (a) A rectangle has length $2√2 + √5+ cm. Given that the area of the rectangle is
$12 − 3√10+ c𝑚' , find the breadth in the form √𝑎 − √𝑏, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers.

+ 17
(b) Given that H9?I × 7'1*7 = (371) )' ÷ 21, without the use of a calculator, find the value
of 217 .

(c) Solve the equation 587 (1 + 51+7 ) = 30.

)
Ans: (a) 𝑎 = 338, 𝑏 = 320 (b) 217 = 21 (c) 𝑥 = +
[CHS/2013/P2]

26 √*)"#%
(a) Without using a calculator, find the exact value of 𝑥 if √3 − 𝑥 = .
√,+

)#
(b) Solve 3(2517 ) = −10.
#:#$

*91+'√+
Ans: (a) )+
(b) 0.252 or -1
[AHS/2013/P2]
Secondary 3 Math Academia

27 (a) Given a triangle 𝐴𝐵𝐶 has area H ) + + √2I 𝑚' and side 𝐴𝐵 equals $2 + √8+ m.
' '
Express the perpendicular distance from 𝐶 to 𝐴𝐵 in the form $𝑎 + 𝑏√2+ where 𝑎 and 𝑏
are real numbers.
)
(b) Solve 3'76) + 376) = 3 + .

*
Ans: (a) height = ' − √2 (b) 𝑥 = −0.369
[BPGHS/2013/P1]
28 Given that 𝑥 = √2 − √3, find, without using calculator, the value of 𝑥 ' − ) .
7"

Ans: −4√6
[ANDSS/2013/P1]
29 Without using a calculator, find

*;#: +.(!%:)
(i) the value of 𝑥 such that $@: = ; ;: ,
'√8*( 9 √8*! :

√C6D
(ii) the values of the integers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that ))
is the solution of the equation
𝑥√24 = 𝑥√2 + √6 .
9
Ans: (i) 𝑥 = − (ii) 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = 6
))
[CGSS/2013/P1]
30 Without using a calculator, find

(a) the value of 37 , given that 12' (127 )1) = √28197 .

(b) the values of the integers 𝑎 and 𝑏 for which the solution of the equation
)#√*
𝑥√90 = 𝑥√5 + √40 is .
,-

Ans: (a) 18 (b) 𝑎 = 12 and 𝑏 = 8

[SNGS/2013/P2]
31 (a) Solve the equation 2*76+ × 3'71) = 15.

4
(b) It is given that 𝑎 = 3√2 − 2. Express 𝑎' − in the form of 𝑝 + 𝑞√2, where 𝑝 and 𝑞 are
'
rational numbers.
'4
Ans: (a) 0.305 (b) 21 − '
√2
[NHHS/2013/P1]
7 +76) '7 )
32 (a) Use the substitution 𝑦 = 2 to express the equation 2 − 5(2 + 8 − 14(27 ) = 0 as
+76) '7 )
a cubic equation in 𝑦. Hence, solve the equation 2 − 5(2 + 8 − 14(27 ) = 0.
!
.-/!√&0
(b) Given that = 𝑎 + 𝑏√2, where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are integers, find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
"/√1

Ans: (a) 𝑥 = −1 or 2 (b) 𝑎 = 19, 𝑏 = −6

[QSS/2013/P2]
Secondary 3 Math Academia

33 , +"√#
Without using a calculator, find the value of 𝑝 and 𝑞 such that ! = .
4-7√# !"+√#

Ans: 𝑝 = 21, 𝑞 = 8
[SCGS/2013/P1]

34 !!($%:) ,)!:#$
Simplify .
*: 1:#$ -,1(8!: )

))
Ans: 5 )9
[VS/2013/P1]

35 ,
The diagonals of a rhombus are of length (5 − √2 + ) m and $3 + √2+ m respectively.
,"√+
Find the area of the rhombus, leaving your answer in the form $𝑎 + 𝑏√2+.

Ans: $4 − √2+ 𝑚'

[VS/2013/P2]