SOLUTION: Can you please help me solve this radical? 4 / 1 + sqrt 3 . I have tried this fraction several times by multiplying the denominator and the numerator by 1 - sqrt 3 but from there o

Algebra ->  Radicals -> SOLUTION: Can you please help me solve this radical? 4 / 1 + sqrt 3 . I have tried this fraction several times by multiplying the denominator and the numerator by 1 - sqrt 3 but from there o      Log On


   

Question 480561: Can you please help me solve this radical? 4 / 1 + sqrt 3 . I have tried this fraction several times by multiplying the denominator and the numerator by 1 - sqrt 3 but from there on I don't know how I am supposed to multiply the numerator and denominator by the new fraction. I tried to cancel out the squareroot sign. The answer should not have a radical in the denominator. I know what the answer should be but i don't know how to get to the answer.
Answer by Theo(13342) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
you had the right idea.
if you multiply the numerator and denominator by (1-sqrt(3))/(1-sqrt(3)), the fraction remains the same and the denominator loses the square root sign.
your expression becomes:
%284%2F%281%2Bsqrt%283%29%29+%2A+%281-sqrt%283%29%29%2F%281-sqrt%283%29%29%29
when you multiply %281%2Bsqrt%283%29%29%2A%281-sqrt%283%29%29, the result is -2.
your expression becomes:
%284%2A%281-sqrt%283%29%29%29%2F2
this can be simplified to:
2%2A%281-sqrt%283%29%29 which can be further simplified to:
2+-+2%2Asqrt%283%29
you don't have to go any further than that.