How do you rationalize the denominator and simplify 1/(5+sqrt7)?

1 Answer
Apr 5, 2016

= (5 - sqrt7) / 18

Explanation:

1 / ( 5 +sqrt7

We rationalise the expression by multiplying it by the conjugate of the denominator. color(blue)( ( 5 - sqrt7)

= (1 * color(blue)(( 5 - sqrt7))) / (( 5 +sqrt7) * color(blue)( ( 5 - sqrt7))

= (1 * color(blue)(( 5)) + 1 * color(blue)(( - sqrt7))) / (( 5 +sqrt7) * color(blue)( ( 5 - sqrt7))

= (5 - sqrt7) / (( 5 +sqrt7) * color(blue)( ( 5 - sqrt7))

  • Applying property:
    color(blue)((a+b)(a-b) = a^2 - b^2 to the denominator.

= (5 - sqrt7) / (( 5 ^2 - (sqrt7)^2)

= (5 - sqrt7) / (25 - 7)

= (5 - sqrt7) / 18