# Thread: [SOLVED] How to Simplify if There are 3 Denominators Exist?

1. ## [SOLVED] How to Simplify if There are 3 Denominators Exist?

Well, it is quite easy to rationalize if there are only 1 or 2 sqrt denominators.
For example: c/(sqrt a + sqrt b) --> (c(sqrt a - sqrt b))/(a^2 -b)

But what if there were 3?
for example:
1/(sqrt 2 + sqrt 3 + sqrt 5) =?

2. I've never actually had to do one of these but here's how I'd go about it.

Say you have $\frac{1}{\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b} + \sqrt{c}}$.

Multiply top and bottom by something like $(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b} - \sqrt{c})$. This gives you:

$\frac{(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b} - \sqrt{c})}{(\sqrt{a} + \sqrt{b} + \sqrt{c})(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b} - \sqrt{c})}$

Expanding this gives you

$\frac{(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b} - \sqrt{c})}{(a - b - c) - 2\sqrt{bc}}$.

Now this looks complicated but $(a - b - c)$ is now an integer, let's call this $D$, you now have:

$\frac{(\sqrt{a} - \sqrt{b} - \sqrt{c})}{D - 2\sqrt{bc}}$.

I'm sure you can now rationalise this fraction?

Hope this helps

3. Thank you Craig, so much. ^^