Question 6558
i have looked on the web and not found much at all, however one pdf had an example where it multiplied by a "surd conjugate". Looking into this, it looks like {{{x+sqrt(y)}}} has the conjugate {{{x-sqrt(y)}}}. As for why...that is the definition of the conjugate. Simple as that.


As for the reason behind using a conjugate...it removes any irrational/surd parts, since {{{(x+sqrt(y))(x+sqrt(y))}}} is {{{x^2 - x*sqrt(y) + x*sqrt(y) - y}}} --> {{{x^2 - y}}}.


Jon.