SOLUTION: Write in simplified radical form by rationalizing the denominator. root 3-2 over -5 root 3+8

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Question 345955: Write in simplified radical form by rationalizing the denominator.


root 3-2 over -5 root 3+8

Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I assume by "root" you mean square root. Please be specific in the future because there are also cube roots, 4th roots, 5th roots, etc.

%28sqrt%283%29-2%29%2F%28-5sqrt%283%29%2B8%29
To rationalize a binomial (two-term) denominator with square roots, we will take advantage of the pattern: %28a%2Bb%29%28a-b%29+=+a%5E2+-+b%5E2. This shows us how to multiply a two term expression like a+b, a-b, or your denominator and turn it into an expression of perfect squares!. You denominator has a "+" between the two terms so it will play the role of a+b with "a" being -5sqrt%283%29 and "b" being 8. So we need to multiply by the corresponding a-b: -5sqrt%283%29-8. And since we are multiplying the denominator by this, we must also multiply the numerator:

When we multiply this out, the denominator is easy because we know from the pattern how it works out: a%5E2+-+b%5E2} or, in this case: %28-5sqrt%283%29%29%5E2+-+%288%29%5E2. In the numerator we will just use FOIL (or whatever method you have learned to multiply binomials).

%28-5%2A3+-8sqrt%283%29+%2B10sqrt%283%29+-16%29%2F%2825%2A3+-+64%29
%28-15++-8sqrt%283%29+%2B10sqrt%283%29+-16%29%2F%2875+-+64%29
%28-31+%2B2sqrt%283%29%29%2F11
And we have a simplified fraction with a rational denominator.