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A “surd” refers to an expression involving roots, such as square roots, cube roots, and so on, that cannot be simplified into a rational number. Surds are an important concept in mathematics, especially in algebra, geometry, and calculus. They are a form of irrational numbers, which means they cannot be expressed as a simple fraction of two integers
Operations with Surds
Addition and Subtraction: Surds can be added or subtracted only if they are like surds (same degree and same radicand).
Multiplication and Division: Surds can be multiplied or divided regardless of their radicands or degrees.
Rationalizing the Denominator: When a surd appears in the denominator of a fraction, it’s common practice to “rationalize” the denominator by multiplying the numerator and denominator by an appropriate surd to eliminate the root from the denominator.
In Summary, Understanding surds is fundamental in higher-level math, including solving equations with roots, working with irrational numbers, and applying them in various mathematical contexts like geometry and calculus.
Practice Simplifying Surd Questions Quiz and accelerate your understanding about the topic
General Instructions
- Your test contains multiple-choice questions with only one answer type questions. There are a total of 10 questions
- This is a 20 min test. Please make sure you complete it in stipulated time
- You can finish this test any time using the 'Submit' button.
