SOLUTION: simplify the square root of 20 over 5 minus 1 over the square root of 5 A) square rootof 20-5 square root of 5 over square root of 5 B) square root of 20 -square root of 5

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: simplify the square root of 20 over 5 minus 1 over the square root of 5 A) square rootof 20-5 square root of 5 over square root of 5 B) square root of 20 -square root of 5       Log On


   

Question 87947: simplify
the square root of 20
over 5 minus
1
over the square root of 5
A) square rootof 20-5 square root of 5 over square root of 5
B) square root of 20 -square root of 5 over 5
C) cannot be simplified
D)1/5 square root of 5
Answer by rapaljer(4671) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are two ways to interpret what you are asking here. One interpretation is this: sqrt%2820%2F5%29+-+1%2F%28sqrt%285%29%29+
The other interpretation is this: %28sqrt%2820%29%29%2F5+-+1%2F%28sqrt%285%29%29+ . My guess is that you meant the second interpretation, since it matches with one of your multiple choice answers, so that is how I will solve it.

%28sqrt%2820%29%29%2F5+-+1%2F%28sqrt%285%29%29+
Begin by simplifying the first square root and rationalize the denominator of the second fraction. Do you understand how to do these steps?

+%282%2Asqrt%285%29%29%2F5+-+1%2A%28sqrt%285%29%29%2F5+

It looks ugly, but at least you have a common denominator:
%282%2Asqrt%285%29+-+1%2A+sqrt%285%29%29%2F5

Combine like terms in the numerator:
%281%2Asqrt%285%29%29+%2F5 or it can be written %281%2F5%29%2Asqrt%285%29, which is the D answer.

R^2 Retired from SCC