MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING

RADICALS
Conjugate pairs
HERE IS THE RULE for multiplying radicals:
It is the symmetrical version of the rule for simplifying radicals. It is valid for
a and b greater than or equal to .
!ro"lem #. $ultiply.
To see the ans%er& pass your mouse over the colored area.
To cover the ans%er again& clic' (Refresh( )(Reload(*.
+o the pro"lem yourself ,rst-
a* . / "* 0 . 1 / 2

c* . / / 2 d* )0 *
0
/ 3. 4 / 0
e*
/
The di5erence of t%o squares
!ro"lem 0. $ultiply& then simplify:
E6ample #. $ultiply ) 7 *) 8 *.
Solution. The student should recogni9e the form those factors %ill produce:
The di5erence of t%o squares
) 7 *) 8 * / ) *
0
8 ) *
0

/ 2 8 0

/ 3.
!ro"lem 1. $ultiply.
a* ) 7 *) 8 * / 4 8 1 / 0
"* )0 7 *)0 8 * / 3. 1 8 2 / #0 8 2 / 2
c* )# 7 *)# 8 * / # 8 )x 7 #* / # 8 x 8 # / 8x
d* ) 7 *) 8 * / a 8 b
!ro"lem 3. )x 8 # 8 *)x 8 # 7 *
a* :hat form does that produce;
The di5erence of t%o squares. x 8 # is (a.( is (b.(<
"* $ultiply out.
)x 8 # 8 *)x 8 # 7 * /)x 8 #*
0
8 0

/
x
0
8 0x 7 # 8 0& on squaring the
"inomial&

/x
0
8 0x 8 #
!ro"lem 4. $ultiply out.
)x 7 1 7 *)x 7 1 8 * /)x 7 1*
0
8 1

/x
0
7 2x 7 = 8 1

/x
0
7 2x 7 2
+ividing radicals
>or e6ample&

/ /
!ro"lem 2. Simplify the follo%ing.
a*


/

"*
?
/

1
3

c*


/

a
/

a.
a
/ a
0
@onAugate pairs
The conAugate of a 7 is a 8 . They are a conAugate pair.
E6ample 0. $ultiply 2 8 %ith its conAugate.
Solution. The product of a conAugate pair BB
)2 8 *)2 7 *
BB is the di5erence of t%o squares. Therefore&
)2 8 *)2 7 * / 12 8 0 / 13.
:hen %e multiply a conAugate pair& the radical vanishes and %e o"tain a
rational num"er.
!ro"lem C. $ultiply each num"er %ith its conAugate.
a* x 7 / x
0
8 y
"* 0 8 )0 8 *)0 7 * / 3 8 1 / #
c* 7
Dou should "e a"le to %rite the product immediately: 2 8 0
/ 3.
d* 3 8 #2 8 4 / ##
E6ample 1. Rationali9e the denominator:
#
Solution. $ultiply "oth the denominator and the numerator "y the
conAugate of the denominatorE that is& multiply them "y 1 8 .
#
/
= 8 0
/
C
The numerator "ecomes 1 8 . The denominator "ecomes the di5erence
of the t%o squares.
!ro"lem ?. :rite out the steps that sho% the follo%ing.
a*
#
/ F) *

# /
4 8 1
/
0
/

F) 8 *
The de,nition of division
"*
0
1 7
/ F)1 8 *

0
1 7
/
= 8 4
/
3
/ F)1 8 *
c*
GCG
1 7
/
2

GCG
1 7
/
=. 4 8 1
/
30
/
2
d*
8 #
/ 1 7 0

8 #
/

0 8 #
/

0 7 0 7 #& !erfect square trinomial


/

1 7 0

e*
# 7
/
x

# 7
/

# 8 )x 7 #*


/

# 8 x 8 #
& !erfect square trinomial


/

8x



/

x

on changing all the
signs.
!ro"lem =. Simplify
/ on adding those fractions&

/ on ta'ing the reciprocal&

/
1 8 0
on multiplying "y the conAugate&

/1 7 0 on multiplying out.
!ro"lem #. Here is a pro"lem that comes up in @alculus. :rite out the
steps that sho%:
/ 8
GGGG#GGGG
x 7 )x 7 h*
In this case& you %ill have to rationali9e the numerator.
/
#
h
.

/
#
h
.
GGGGG x 8 ) x 7 h *GGGGG

/
#
h
.
GGGG x 8 x 8 h GGGGG
x 7 )x 7 h*

/
#
h
.
GGGGGGG8 h GGGGGGG
x 7 )x 7 h*

/ 8
GGGGGGG #GGGGGGG
x 7 )x 7 h*