2.3 Radicals and rational powers

Definition 2.9. If \(a\geq 0\), the square root \(\sqrt {a}\) is the non-negative number whose square is \(a\). More generally \(a^{1/n}=\sqrt [n]{a}\) and \(a^{m/n}=\sqrt [n]{a^m}=\left (\sqrt [n]{a}\right )^m\).

The rules that make radicals manageable are \[\sqrt {ab}=\sqrt {a}\,\sqrt {b},\qquad \sqrt {\frac {a}{b}}=\frac {\sqrt {a}}{\sqrt {b}} \quad (b\neq 0).\]

Note 2.10. There is no such rule for sums. \(\sqrt {a+b}\) is not \(\sqrt {a}+\sqrt {b}\). Test it once and remember it: \(\sqrt {9+16}=\sqrt {25}=5\), while \(\sqrt {9}+\sqrt {16}=3+4=7\).

2.3.1 Rationalising the denominator

A fraction with a radical underneath is awkward to work with and, by convention, is not left in that form. Rationalising means rewriting it so the denominator is rational.

Example 2.11. Rationalise the denominator of each.

(a).
\(\frac {3}{\sqrt {5}}\)
(b).
\(\frac {2}{\sqrt {7}-\sqrt {3}}\)
(c).
\(\frac {1+\sqrt {2}}{3-\sqrt {2}}\)

Solution. (a) A single radical: multiply top and bottom by it. \[\frac {3}{\sqrt {5}}=\frac {3}{\sqrt {5}}\times \frac {\sqrt {5}}{\sqrt {5}} =\frac {3\sqrt {5}}{5}.\] Multiplying by \(\frac {\sqrt 5}{\sqrt 5}\) is multiplying by \(1\), so the value has not changed — only its appearance.

(b) Two terms underneath. Multiply by the conjugate, the same expression with the sign between the terms reversed, because \((x-y)(x+y)=x^2-y^2\) removes both radicals at once. \[\frac {2}{\sqrt {7}-\sqrt {3}}\times \frac {\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}}{\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}} =\frac {2\left (\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}\right )}{\left (\sqrt {7}\right )^2-\left (\sqrt {3}\right )^2} =\frac {2\left (\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}\right )}{7-3} =\frac {2\left (\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}\right )}{4} =\frac {\sqrt {7}+\sqrt {3}}{2}.\]

(c) Same method; the conjugate of \(3-\sqrt {2}\) is \(3+\sqrt {2}\). \[\frac {1+\sqrt {2}}{3-\sqrt {2}}\times \frac {3+\sqrt {2}}{3+\sqrt {2}} =\frac {\left (1+\sqrt {2}\right )\left (3+\sqrt {2}\right )}{9-2}.\] Expanding the top: \[\left (1+\sqrt {2}\right )\left (3+\sqrt {2}\right ) =3+\sqrt {2}+3\sqrt {2}+\left (\sqrt {2}\right )^2 =3+4\sqrt {2}+2=5+4\sqrt {2}.\] \[\therefore \quad \frac {1+\sqrt {2}}{3-\sqrt {2}}=\frac {5+4\sqrt {2}}{7}.\]

Check. \(\frac {1+\sqrt 2}{3-\sqrt 2}\approx 1.5224\) and \(\frac {5+4\sqrt 2}{7}\approx 1.5224\). A quick numerical check like this catches sign errors in the expansion, and takes seconds.

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