EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
Number 10
Handout for www.alevels.com.cn
• Rational and Irrational Numbers
• Surds
• Exam Practice: Number 10
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Learning Objectives
• (1) Understand the di erence between rational and irrational numbers
• (2) Simplify surds
• (3) Simplify expressions involving surds
• (4) Expand expressions involving surds
• (5) Rationalise the denominator of a fraction
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1. Rational and Irrational Numbers
The decimal expansion of irrational numbers is in nite with no pattern. An in nite decimal
expansion where the digits recur is rational because it can be written as a fraction (see
Number 7).
Together the rational numbers and the irrational numbers form the set of real numbers. All
these sets can be shown on a Venn diagram where
• ℕ is the set of natural numbers or positive integers {1, 2, 3, 4, …}.
• ℤ is the set of integers {…, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, …}
• ℚ is the set of rational numbers.
• ℝ is the set of real numbers.
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
Example 1
Which of these numbers are rational and which are irrational? Give reasons for your answers.
2 0.789 0.67 2× 2 2+ 2
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Example 2
(a) Find an irrational number between 4 and 5.
(b) Find a rational number between 2 and 3.
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a
• Rational numbers can be written as a fraction in the form
b
where a and b are integers and b ≠ 0
4
4 is rational as it can be written as
1
4
0.4 is rational as it can be written as
9
• An irrational numbers cannot be written as a fraction.
2 and are π both irrational.
The decimal expansion of irrational numbers is in nite and shows no pattern.
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
2. Surds
A surd is a number written exactly using roots. Surds are used to express irrational numbers in
exact form. 2 means the positive square root of 2.
Example 3
Simplify : (a) 18 (b) 35 （c) 72
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Example 4
Simplify : 18 + 2 2
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Example 5
Express 5 6 as the square root of a single number.
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Example 6
81
Simplify :
49
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Example 7
Expand and simplify (2 + 3 2)2
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
• a ×b = a× b
a a
• =
b b
Rationalizing the Denominator
When writing fractions it is not usual to write surds in the denominator. The surds can be cleared
by multiplying the top and bottom of the fraction by the same number. This is equivalent to
multiplying the fraction by 1 and so does not change its value. The process is called ‘rationalising
the denominator’.
Example 8
14 5+5
Rationalise the denominator of these fractions: (a) , (b) ,
7 5
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Example 9
1 7
Rationalise the denominator of these fractions: (a) (b)
1+ 2 3− 2
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a b
• To rationalise the denominator of multiply by
b b
1 a+ b
• To rationalise the denominator of multiply by
a− b a+ b
1 a− b
• To rationalise the denominator of multiply by
a+ b a− b
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
3. Exam Practice: Number 10 (Total 25 marks)
Give all answers where appropriate as fractions or mixed numbers in their lowest terms.
49
1. Simplify (a) 45 − 5 (b) [4]
64
2. Simplify (a) 12 + 2 27 (b) 3 50 − 2 32 [4]
3. Simplify (a) (2 − 2 3)2 (b) (1 + 3)(1 − 3) [4]
1+ 5 −7
4. Rationalise the denominator and simplify (a) (b) [4]
5 2− 11
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
a 2 5 8 7 3
5. Work out, writing each answer in the form (a) + (b) − [4]
b 2 32 72 8
6. The diagram shows an isosceles right-angled triangle.
(a) Use this diagram to work out values of sin 45° and cos 45°.
Express your answers as surds in their simplest form.
(b) Carla sails 36 km on a bearing of 045°. How far east has
she travelled? Express your answer as a surd in its simplest
form.
[5]
7. The diagram shows a right-angled triangle. Find the value of x. [3]
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EDXEXCEL IG Mathematics A Number 10
END
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