Topic Details (Notes format)

How to Simplify Surds (Irrational Square Roots)

Subject: Mathematics

Book: Maths Mastery

“Surd” often refers to an irrational root that can’t be simplified to a rational number, like √2 or √7. We can simplify √18 to 3√2 by factoring out perfect squares. To add or subtract surds, they must share the same radicand: for instance, 2√3 + 3√3 = 5√3. Rationalizing denominators (like 1/√3 becoming √3/3) is key to presenting surd answers in standard form. Surd arithmetic underlies advanced algebra, geometry with exact distances, and calculations where approximations can degrade precision. Familiarity ensures you handle irrational values with exactness and clarity.

Practice Questions

If the length of a rectangle is doubled and the width is halved, what is the change in area?

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If sin(A) = 3/5 and cos(B) = 5/13, where A and B are acute angles, what is sin(A+B)?

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What is the square root of 0.25?

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If a right triangle has legs of 9 cm and 12 cm, what is the length of the hypotenuse?

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If sin(A) = 1/2 and A is acute, what is the value of A?

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If a:b = 2:3 and b:c = 4:5, what is a:c?

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What is the length of the diagonal of a square with a side length of 7 cm?

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A number is increased by 20% and then decreased by 20%. What is the net change?

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What is the area of a sector of a circle with radius 14 cm and central angle 90°?

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If sin(θ) = 3/5 and θ is an acute angle, what is tan(θ)?

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