Rational algebraic expressions

**DenMac21** · January 2nd 2006, 01:31 AM

In a book stands that rational algebraic expression is ${\sqrt 2}$ and that are not rational algebraic expression ${\sqrt 2gh}, x+{\sqrt x}$

How can ${\sqrt 2}$ be rational algebraic expression? Why isn't irrational?

Why ${\sqrt 2gh}, x+{\sqrt x}$ are irrational?

**CaptainBlack** · January 2nd 2006, 02:05 PM

Originally Posted by DenMac21

In a book stands that rational algebraic expression is ${\sqrt 2}$ and that are not rational algebraic expression ${\sqrt 2gh}, x+{\sqrt x}$

How can ${\sqrt 2}$ be rational algebraic expression? Why isn't irrational?

Why ${\sqrt 2gh}, x+{\sqrt x}$ are irrational?

A rational algebraic expression is an expressions which is of the form

$\frac{P(x)}{Q(x)}$ ,

where $P(x)$ and $Q(x)$ are polynomials in x. Note this does not require
that the coefficients in either polynomial be rational.

With this definition ${\sqrt 2}$ is a rational algebraic expression
(even though ${\sqrt 2}$ is not a rational number).

Clearly with this definition $x+{\sqrt x}$ is not a rational algebraic expression.

Assuming the remaining expression should be: $\sqrt {2gh}$ and that $g$ and $h$
are polynomials then this is not a rational algebraic expression.

RonL

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