Surds in maths

[Special]

Surds in maths is one of the hardest things ive done, just wondering if anyone knows any techniques/ways to remember how to do them?

thanks!!!!!
+rep for good helpful answers

[CHA!NGANG]

What level? GCSE, A Level, AS Level?

Also can you give an example of a question? Surds come in different questions and levels.

[Special]

What level? GCSE, A Level, AS Level?

Also can you give an example of a question? Surds come in different questions and levels.

GCSE level.

Also it could be anything from simplyfying, x/+/- or divide (its a exam, I wouldnt know)

Just need to know the basics really

[CHA!NGANG]

I'll give a tip with x's. / = root in this case.

/24 x /54

Split /24 into two terms buy finding the factors of 24 which are 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12.

From that list you need a number that can be square rooted which in this case is 4 as /4 = 2.

Then you can split /24 into: /4 x /6

/4 = 2 so it becomes 2/6.

If you do the same with /54 then it will take you to: /9 x /6. This can become 3/6 as /9 = 3.

Then you get:

2/6 x 3/6 which = 6/6 which is your final answer.

I'm going to guess this will be in a non-calc paper as I can't remember GCSE's at all so if this isn't helpful at all then sorry :P

I think the same rules apply with +/- and not sure about devision.

[LoveToStack]

Basically whoever said break down the number being square rooted into factors which have a square root is the best advice. With division, you just square root the whole fraction, after simplifying it:

(√12) / (√6) = √(12/6) = √2

[Soka]

only two rules to apply with surds:

/a * /b = /(a*b)

/a over /b = /(a over b)

at gcse standard, if you apply these to any question you should be fine, if it asks you simplify a 3 digit number eg /180 then look for factors of 4,9,16,25 etc. of the number and work from there

so /180 = /9 /20 = 3 /20 = 3 /4 /5 = 3*2 /5 = 6 /5.

i suspect the other type of question asked at gcse will be of the form

(a + /b)(a + /b) = a^2 + b + 2a /b.

[DieselShaq]

Then you get:

2/6 x 3/6 which = 6/6 which is your final answer.
That's not correct. You only multiplied 2 and 3 but not the /6. What really happens is you do 2x3 to get 6 and then /6x/6 to get 6, then multiply the two again to get 36.

[luce]

If you want proper help with GCSE level then PM me and i can do questions relevant to you rather then spurting out stuff you won't understand :D

I found then extremely easy - i don't know factorizing and things like this i can do with ease give me stats then i have the trouble.

:)

[LoveToStack]

If you want proper help with GCSE level then PM me and i can do questions relevant to you rather then spurting out stuff you won't understand :D

I found then extremely easy - i don't know factorizing and things like this i can do with ease give me stats then i have the trouble.

:)

I'm confused. He's meant to have faith in your sound knowledge of GCSE level maths yet you do not know how to factorize? :S