• Congratulations to the Class of 2024 on your results!
    Let us know how you went here
    Got a question about your uni preferences? Ask us here

Need help with Surds men (1 Viewer)

Joined
Sep 20, 2010
Messages
2,225
Gender
Undisclosed
HSC
2012
In Q7: multiply the first fraction by the conjugate on the numerator and denominator. Do the same with 3/root3 = root3. Cross multiply.

Q8: multiply the LHS by the conjugate of the denominator. Solve.

Q9: expand.
 

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
1.

(Slow and steady, since I believe you are only beginning this topic)



(For simplicity simplify the second term)





Rationalise the first expression by multiplying it with its conjugate, ie. 2-sqrt(3). We do this so we have a difference between two squares - eliminating the surd expression on the denominator.











The number two belongs to the set of rational numbers. (A number that can be expressed in the quotient form p/q where q is not 0.)


2.



Rationalise it by multiplying by the conjugate of the denominator







By the equality of surds,




3. See if you can use a similiar technique to do the last question. Start by expanding the left hand side.
 
Last edited:

kev-

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
84
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Spiral, second line of your working out is wrong. It's supposed to be 3rt3/3 instead of 3rt3/rt3
 

kev-

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2012
Messages
84
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
yeah sorry. Just pointed out the typo in case it confuses anyone.
 

youngsky

poof
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Messages
203
Location
Sydney
Gender
Male
HSC
2014
Thanks for the help!

@Spiral: For question 8 (the second one) when I multiplied by the conjugate I got the answer x = 5, y = 2. I think you forgot to include the other negative root 6

@asianese: Can you explain the equating the rational/irrational parts method? Don't think I've done this before.
 

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
Very well spotted. A mistake on my part. Thank you for correcting me.



Is indeed





 

SpiralFlex

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
6,960
Gender
Female
HSC
N/A
From Asianese's line:



Notice on the RHS, we have something in the form



We can arrange the LHS into the form,



And by the equality of surds. (Just like equating coefficients for polynomials) We have our two equations of -




 

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Users: 0, Guests: 1)

Top