Sec 3 Integrated Mathematics (IP/mainstream)

Name : _______________________________ Class (

Date : ___________

Surds

Worksheet
A surd is an irrational number expressed in radical form.

Which of the following numbers are irrational?

22
2,

25
7

1
3

3.14

8
2

&&
0.28

Which of the following are surds?

2 8

10

32

2 3

3 2

(A) Addition and Subtraction of Surds

Example 1
Simplify the following

(a) 2 5 3 5 4 5 ,

(b) 10 2 8 3 32 2 50 .

(B) Multiplication of Surds

Example 2
Simplify the following

(a) 3 2 5 2 2 3 5 ,

(b) 7 3 2

(C) Division of Surds and Rationalizing the Denominator

Evaluate the sum

1
1
1
1

...
without using calculator.
1 2
2 3
3 4
99 100

To do this, we need to introduce the concept of conjugate surds.

Conjugate surds differ in the sign of one of the terms.
Surd
2 3

Conjugate Surd

10 11
Note : The product of two conjugate surds is always rational. See example 3.
Example 3
Show that the product of a b c d and a b c d is always rational if a, b, c and d are rational.

Example 4
Evaluate the product of the following

(a) 2 3 2 3

(b)

10 11

10 11

(c) 5 2 2 3 5 2 2 3

Example 5
Rationalise the denominators of the following
1
6
(a)
(b)
2
3

(c)

12
1440

The process of eliminating surds from the denominator is called to rationalize the denominator.

Example 6
Rationalise the denominators of the following
(a)

3
,
2 5 3

(b)

3 2 4
.
43 2

Example 7
Evaluate the sum

1
1
1
1

...
without using calculator.
1 2
2 3
3 4
99 100

This problem illustrates the usefulness of rationalizing the denominator of a fraction.

(D) Solving Equations Involving Surds
Example 8
Solve the equation

8 x x 2 0 .

Example 9
y 4 3y 1 5 .

Solve the equation

Warning : The process of squaring both sides of an equation may generate extraneous solutions,
hence it is important to check your answer(s).
Equality of Surds
ab m cd m

a c, b d
if a, b, c and d are rational numbers and m is irrational.
Example 10
Given that 3 2 3 4 a 3 b 23 3 , find the value of a and of b.

Homework :
Pan Pac Additional Math textbook, Pg 22, Ex 2.1, Q3 (c) (g) (h) , Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9