Mathematic KFP00105

Topic 1 : Number System

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TOPIC

: 1.0 NUMBER SYSTEM

SUBTOPIC

: 1.3 Surd

LEARNING
OUTCOMES

: At the end of the lesson, student should be able to

(a)
(b)

Explain the meaning of surd and its conjugate and to carry out
algebraic operations on surds.
Solve equation involving surds.

CONTENT
A number expressed in terms of root sign is radical or a surd. For example, 4 = 2 and 3 27 = 3
are called radical expression. However, radical expressions in the form of 7 or 3 71 which
equal to irrational numbers are known as surds.
Some examples of surds are 2 , 5 and 7 . They cannot be evaluated exactly, i.e. no
approximation is precise. For example 2 = 1.414213562 to ten significant figures. This is not
the exact value because 2 is irrational, it can never be represented exactly as a fraction or as
terminating decimals.
RULES OF SURDS
ab =

a
b

a, b 0

PROPERTY 1

a, 0 , b 0

PROPERTY 2

a b + c b = (a + c) b

PROPERTY 3

a b - c b = (a - c) b

PROPERTY 4

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Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
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Additional rules
1)

a a =a

2)

a +

3)

4)

( a +

b ) 2 = a + b+ 2 ab

5)

( a +

b )( a -

Remark: a + b

a = 2 a
b =

a
b

b ) = a2 b2

Example
Simplify:
a)
45

b)

24

c)

6 7 +2 7

Solution
a)

45 = 9 5
= 9 5
= 3 5

b)

24 = 4 6
= 4 6
= 2 6

c)

6 7 + 2 7 = (6 + 2) 7
= 8 7

d)

5 3 27 = 5 3 9 3
= 5 3 ( 9 3)
= 5 3 3 3 = 2 3

21

d)

5 3 27

( a +

b )

Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Multiplying Radicals
There are 2 types.
1) a x b = ab
2) a b x c d = ac bd
Example

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

1.
2.

Multiply:
3 6 x5 7
7 8 x 10 6
3 (4 7 - 3 )
8 2 (5 6 + 2 )
(2 3 +4 2 )(6 3 +2 2 )
Solution
3 6 x 5 7 = 15 42
7 8 x 10 6 = 70 48
= 70 16 x 3
= 70(4 3 )
= 280 3

3.

4.

3 (4 7 - 3 ) = 4 21 = 4 21 -3
8 2 (5 6 +

2 ) = 40 12 + 8 4
= 40 4 x 3 + 8(2)
= 80 3 +16

5.

(2 3 +4 2 )(6 3 +2 2 ) =12(3) + 4 6 + 24 6 + 8(2)

= 36 + 4 6 + 24 6 +16
= 52 + 28 6

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Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
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Example
Expand and simplify ( 8 3 ) ( 8 + 3 ) .
Solution
( 8 3) ( 8 + 3) =

8 ( 8 + 3) -

= ( 8)2 +

3 ( 8 + 3)
3 8 - ( 3) 2

8 3-

= ( 8 ) 2 - ( 3) 2
=83=5
The conjugate of
number.
For example, ( 8 +

a +

b is

3 )( 8 -

b where ( a +

b )( a

b ) = a b is a rational

3 ) = ( 8 )2 - ( 3 )2 = 8 3 = 5

Rationalising the denominator

When the denominator of a fraction contains a square root, we generally simplify the expression
by rationalising the denominator.
To rationalize a denominator, multiply the numerator and the denominator of the fraction that
will result in the denominator to become a rational number.
If Denominator
Contains the Factor
3

Multiply by
3

3 +1

3 1

2 3

2 +3

5 3

5+ 3

To Obtain Denominator
Free from surds

(
(
(
(

)
3) 1 = 3 1 = 2
2 ) 3 = 2 9 = 7
5) ( 3) = 5 3 = 2
2

3 =3
2

In rationalizing the denominator of a quotient, be sure to multiply both the numerator and the
denominator by the same expression.

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Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
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Example
Rationalise:
(a)

(b)

(c)

2 3

Solution
5

a)

(c)

2 3

3
2 3

3 3
2(3)

3
2

1
7 2

7 2

(7 + 2 )

(7 + 2 )

( 7) 2 ( 2 ) 2
7+ 2
49 2
7+ 2
.
47

5 3

(7 + 2 )

2 3

3
3

(d)

5 3
.
3

(b)

=
=
=

2 3

)(

5+ 3

)
5 3 5+ 3
10 3 + 2( 3 ) 2

25 + 5 3 5 3 ( 3 ) 2
10 3 + 6
22

24

1
7 2

(d)

2 3
5 3

Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
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Example
Rationalise the denominator and simplify.
(a)

17 5

(b)

17 + 5

1+ 2
1 2

1 3

(c)

1+ 2

3+ 2
3 2

Solution
(a)

17 5
17 + 5

=
=
=

1 2

1 2
1+ 2

17 5

)(

( 17 5 )
( 17 5 )
17 5

( 17 ) ( 5 )

( 17 ) 2 17 5 5 17 + ( 5 ) 2
17 5
17 + 5 2 5 17
12
22 2 85
12
2(11 85 )
12
11 85
.
6

1+ 2

17 + 5

(b)

17 5

(1 + 2 )(1 + 2 ) + (1 2 )(1 2 )

(1 2 )(1 + 2 )
[ 1 + 2 2 + ( 2 ) ] + [1 2 2 + ( 2 )
=
1 + 2 2 ( 2)
6
=
= -6
1
2

(c)

3+ 2
3 2

+ 2 =
=

3+ 2

3+ 2

+ 2
3 2
3+ 2
( 3) 2 + 6 + 6 + ( 2 ) 2
x

( 3) 2 + 6 6 ( 2 ) 2

+ 2

5+2 6
+ 2
1
= 5+2 6 + 2
=

25

+ 2

Mathematic KFP00105
Topic 1 : Number System
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Surd Equation
Example
Solve each of the following equation :
(a)
2x 1 5 = 0
(b)
3x + 1 + 1 = x
(c)
x + x+2 =2
Solution
(a) 2 x 1 5 = 0
2x 1 = 5
( 2 x 1) 2 = (5) 2
2x 1 = 25
2x = 26
x = 13
(b)

(c)

3x + 1 + 1 = x
3x + 1 = x 1
( 3x + 1 )2 = (x 1)2
3x + 1 = x2 2x + 1
x2 5x = 0
x(x 5) = 0
x = 0 or x = 5
x=5

but x 0

x + x+2 =2
( x + x + 2 )2 = 22
x+2 x x+2 +x+2=4
2 x( x + 2) = 2 2x
x 2 + 2x = 1 x
( x 2 + 2 x )2 = (1 x)2
x2 + 2x = 1 2x + x2
4x = 1
1
x=
4

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