SOLUTION: Simplify. √20/5 – 1/√5 I keep coming up with they cannot be simplified. Is it right?

Algebra ->  Equations -> SOLUTION: Simplify. √20/5 – 1/√5 I keep coming up with they cannot be simplified. Is it right?      Log On


   

Question 81994: Simplify.
√20/5 – 1/√5
I keep coming up with they cannot be simplified.
Is it right?
Answer by Mona27(45) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Actually they can.
sqrt%2820%29%2F5-1%2Fsqrt%285%29
to make this into one fraction, we have to find a common denominator, and we can do that by multiplying the top and the bottom of the second fraction by sqrt%285%29:
%28sqrt%2820%29-sqrt%285%29%29%2F5
Now lets take a closer look at sqrt%2820%29
the number 20=4%2A5
this means that sqrt%2820%29=2%2Asqrt%285%29
So our equation above becomes:
%282sqrt%285%29-sqrt%285%29%29%2F5=sqrt%285%29%2F5=1%2Fsqrt%285%29