How do I rationalise the denominator of √2+1]/√2-1?

We must choose something to multiply the numerator and denominator of the fraction by the same thing, and the best thing to choose is the difference of two squares (since (x^2-y)(x^2+y)=x^2-y^2 ).
So we do (√2+1)(√2+1)/(√2-1)(√2+1). Since the (√2)^2=2, the numerator becomes 2+2√2+1, and the bottom becomes 2-1=1 (the difference of two squares). Simplifying this out becomes 2√2+3/1, which is 2√2+3

HJ

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Factorising and Expanding brackets


In 2017 the number of teachers in a school was 20. The number of teachers doubles each year. If in 2019 3/5 of the teachers are female how many male teachers are there in 2019?


Find the roots of the following equation x^2 + 6x + 5 = 0


Solve the simultaneous equations y = x^2 +3x and y = x+8