• February 13th 2008, 02:13 PM
Ilusa
Hi I need help with what should be a simple algebra problem, any help would be great thanks.

the square root of 3 - the square root of 2 all over the sqaure root of (3 - the square root of 2)
• February 13th 2008, 02:42 PM
Plato
$\frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}\frac{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }} = ?
$
• February 14th 2008, 09:07 AM
Ilusa
The question is

$
\frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}
$

sorry I left an important bit out the answer has to be in the form

$a-b{{\sqrt c }}$

PS plato when you were multiplying the surd by the conjugate would the - not be outside the brackets, I'm abit confused
• February 14th 2008, 09:16 AM
topsquark
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ilusa
The question is

$
\frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}
$

sorry I left an important bit out the answer has to be in the form

$a-b{{\sqrt c }}$

PS plato when you were multiplying the surd by the conjugate would the - not be outside the brackets, I'm abit confused

According to the general prescription there is a minus sign. But since it cancels out, most would not include it. For example, in Plato's hint:
$\frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }} \cdot \frac{-{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}{-{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}$

$= \frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}\frac{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}{{\sqrt {\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}$

Now just multiply things out and see what you get.

-Dan
• February 14th 2008, 10:07 AM
Ilusa
the 3 on the denominator should not have the extra square root only the 2 should have

The question is
$
\frac{{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 }}{{\sqrt {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}
$

I multiplied it by $
\frac{{\sqrt {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}{{\sqrt {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}
$

and got $
\frac{{\sqrt {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 }.{\sqrt 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}{{ {\ 3 - \sqrt 2 } }}
$

where do you go form here I've factorised by ended up with the original equ
• February 15th 2008, 04:17 AM
Ilusa