Collaborative exam-style

questions

SAMPLE

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Surds
a Simplify
99  44
giving your answer in the form a 11, where a is an integer. (2 marks)

b Hence, or otherwise, simplify

99  44
11  7 (3 marks)

What do you need to do to answer these questions?

45
50
35
20
15
60
0
5
10
25
30
40
55
You have one minute to collaborate.

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 To answer questions of this type I need to:

1 use the rules of surds

2 rationalise the denominator

3 simplify.

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 a Simplify
99  44
giving your answer in the form a 11, where a is an integer.

Find a factor of each surd that is a square number.

99  44  9  11  4  11

Each product can be simplified using the rules of surds. Rules of surds

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 9  11  4  11

Simplify each product.

9  11  4  11  9  11  4   11 Use the rule ab  a  b
(1)

  3 11  2 11 

 1 11 so a  1 (1)

Rules of surds

Check that a is an integer. Factors practice

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 b Hence, or otherwise, simplify
99  44
11  7

Use part a to simplify the numerator.

99  44 11

11  7 11  7

The denominator can now be rationalised.

Rules of surds

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 11
11  7

Multiply the numerator and denominator by ( 11  7).

11 11 11  7
  (1)
11  7 11  7 11  7

11 11  7 11
 (1)
11 11  7 11  7 11  49

This can be simplified using the rules of surds. Rules of surds

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 11 11  7 11
11 11  7 11  7 11  49

Simplify the numerator and denominator.

11 11  7 11 11  7 11 11  11  11

11 11  7 11  7 11  49 38 +7 11 and -7 11 cancel.

11  7 11 (1)

38

Check there is not a surd in the denominator. Rules of surds

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Factors practice

Simplify:

a 20 b 32 c 2 75 d 5 20 e 7  72

Look for a factor of each surd that is a square number.

a 2 5 b 4 2 c 10 3 d 10 5 e 76 2

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question

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Rules of surds

You can manipulate surds using these rules.

ab  a b
a a a
a a

b b

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question

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