Double check my expressions a+b squareroot c

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around verifying mathematical expressions in the form of $$a + b\sqrt{c}$$, specifically focusing on the simplification and transformation of various algebraic fractions and expressions. Participants analyze the correctness of steps taken in the simplification process and the proper formatting of results.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant presents several expressions to be simplified, including $$(3-\sqrt{18})^{2}$$, $$\frac{3}{4-\sqrt{7}}$$, and $$\frac{4+\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$, and requests verification of their answers.
  • Another participant argues that the expression should remain in the form $$a + b\sqrt{c}$$, indicating that negative values for $b$ are acceptable as they can be expressed as $a + (-b)\sqrt{c}$.
  • Multiple participants point out errors in the formatting of LaTeX expressions, specifically regarding the use of curly braces in square roots.
  • Concerns are raised about the simplification steps, with questions about why certain terms are divided or canceled in the process.
  • Some participants provide hints and corrections regarding the proper use of LaTeX syntax and the mathematical operations involved in simplification.
  • There is a discussion about the interpretation of simplification, with some participants suggesting that the entire transformation process could be considered simplification.
  • Participants express confusion about how to handle operations involving square roots and fractions, particularly in the context of simplifying expressions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for corrections in formatting and simplification steps, but there is no consensus on the interpretation of certain simplification processes or the final forms of the expressions.

Contextual Notes

Some expressions contain unresolved mathematical steps, particularly regarding the simplification of fractions and the handling of negative coefficients in the context of the required format.

ai93
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Can anyone double check my answers? I have to put the answer in this format $$a+b\sqrt{c}$$
a)$$(3-\sqrt{18})^{2}$$
Answer
$$(3-\sqrt{18}) \quad(3-\sqrt{18})$$
$$9-3\sqrt{18}-3\sqrt{18}+18$$
$$9-6\sqrt{18}+18$$
$$27(-6)\quad(3\sqrt{2)}$$
=$$27-18\sqrt{2}$$
$$\therefore a = 27 b = -18 c = \sqrt{2}$$
Wouldn't I have to put it in $$+b?$$ I got -18

b) $$\frac{3}{4-\sqrt{7}}$$
Answer
$$\frac{3}{4-\sqrt{7}}$$ x $$\frac{4+\sqrt{7}}{4+\sqrt{7}}$$
$$\frac{3(4+\sqrt{7)}}{(4-\sqrt{7)(4+\sqrt{7)}}}$$
$$\frac{12+3\sqrt{7}}{16+4\sqrt{7}-4\sqrt{7}-7}$$
So
$$\frac{12+3\sqrt{7}}{9}$$ CF is 3 so divide by 3
=$$\frac{4}{3}+1\sqrt{7}$$
$$a=\frac{4}{3} b=1 c=\sqrt{2}$$

c) $$\frac{4+\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$
Answer
$$\frac{4+\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$ x $$\frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{3+\sqrt{5}}$$
$$\frac{(4+\sqrt{5)(3+\sqrt{5)}}}{(3-\sqrt{5)(3+\sqrt{5)}}}$$
$$\frac{12+4\sqrt{5}+3\sqrt{5}+5}{9+3\sqrt{5-3\sqrt{5}-5}}$$
=$$\frac{17}{4}+7\sqrt{5}$$
$$a=\frac{17}{4} b= 7 c=\sqrt{5}$$

Please correct me if i am wrong, and some of the questions I cannot display how I want, I hope you understand
 
Last edited:
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no you wouldn't change it to +b. the simple form of the expression is a+b. instead of having both forms $a+b \sqrt{c}$ and $a-b \sqrt{c}$. they just have a+b which also implies $a+(-b) \sqrt{c}$ where b is negative which can be $a-b \sqrt{c}$ in the final form.
 
mathsheadache said:
a)$$(3-\sqrt{18})^{2}$$
Answer
$$(3-\sqrt{18}) (3-\sqrt{18})$$
$$9-3\sqrt{18}-3\sqrt{18}+18$$
$$9-6\sqrt{18}+18$$
$$27(-6)(3\sqrt{2)}$$
=$$27-18\sqrt{2}$$
$$\therefore a = 27 b = 18 c = \sqrt{2}$$
This is correct. (Edit: Not entirely correct because $b=-18$.) (Hint: Use [m]\ [/m] (backslash space) or [m]\quad[/m] in LaTeX to insert a space in math mode. Or, better, use several [m][math][/m] tags.)

mathsheadache said:
Wouldn't I have to put it in $$+b?$$ I got -18
You've got $+b$ where $b=-18$.

mathsheadache said:
b) $$\frac{3}{4-\sqrt{7}}$$
Answer
$$\frac{3}{4-\sqrt{7}}$$ x $$\frac{4+\sqrt{7}}{4+\sqrt{7}}$$
$$\frac{3(4+\sqrt{7)}}{(4-\sqrt{7)(4+\sqrt{7)}}}$$
Close the curly brace after 7 in the denominator, like this: [m]\sqrt{7}[/m] instead of this: [m]\sqrt{7)[/m].

mathsheadache said:
$$\frac{12+3\sqrt{7}}{16+4\sqrt{7}-4\sqrt{7}-7}$$
So
$$\frac{12+3\sqrt{7}}{9}$$ CF is 3 so divide by 3
=$$\frac{4}{3}+1\sqrt{7}$$
Why did you divide 12 by 9. but did not divide 3 by 9?

mathsheadache said:
c) $$\frac{4+\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$
Answer
$$\frac{4+\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$ x $$\frac{3+\sqrt{5}}{3+\sqrt{5}}$$
$$\frac{(4+\sqrt{5)(3+\sqrt{5)}}}{(3-\sqrt{5)(3+\sqrt{5)}}}$$
Same remark about closing }.

mathsheadache said:
$$\frac{12+4\sqrt{5}+3\sqrt{5}+5}{9+3\sqrt{5-3\sqrt{5}-5}}$$
=$$\frac{17}{4}+7\sqrt{5}$$
Why did you divide 17 by 4, but did not divide 7 by 4?
 
Last edited:
Evgeny.Makarov said:
This is correct. (Hint: Use [m]\ [/m] (backslash space) or [m]\quad[/m] in LaTeX to insert a space in math mode. Or, better, use several [m][math][/m] tags.)

You've got $+b$ where $b=-18$.

Close the curly brace after 7 in the denominator, like this: [m]\sqrt{7}[/m] instead of this: [m]\sqrt{7)[/m].

Why did you divide 12 by 9. but did not divide 3 by 9?

Same remark about closing }.

Why did you divide 17 by 4, but did not divide 7 by 4?

Made the correction. a) is equal to $$a = 27 b = -18 c = \sqrt{2}$$

When I try and edit the curly brace \sqrt{7} instead of \sqrt{7) I get this text:\displaystyle \frac{3(4+\sqrt{7)}}{(4-\sqrt{7}(4+\sqrt{7)}}}

I don't quite understand. I divided 12 by 9 because in my step earlier I had $$\frac{12+3\sqrt{7}}{16+4\sqrt{7}-4\sqrt{7}-7}$$
$$+4\sqrt{7}-4\sqrt{7}$$ Both cancel each other out, leaving 16-7=9
I thought you would have to show the answer like this $$\frac{12}{9}+3\sqrt{7}$$ Use a CF to simplify which is 3 and got my answer $$\frac{4}{3}+1\sqrt{7}$$ ?

Same with what I thought with c) Cancel the like terms $$3\sqrt{5}-3\sqrt{5}$$ leaving $$9-5=4$$

I thought you only divide the denominator only by the first part and not necessary to divide by the whole numerator?
 
mathsheadache said:
Made the correction. a) is equal to $$a = 27 b = -18 c = \sqrt{2}$$
The value of $c$ is 2 since the answer should be in the form $a+b\sqrt{c}$.

mathsheadache said:
When I try and edit the curly brace \sqrt{7} instead of \sqrt{7) I get this text:\displaystyle \frac{3(4+\sqrt{7)}}{(4-\sqrt{7}(4+\sqrt{7)}}}
You still have \sqrt{7) in two places. The correct expression should be [m]\displaystyle \frac{3(4+\sqrt{7})}{(4-\sqrt{7})(4+\sqrt{7})}[/m], which gives
\[
\frac{3(4+\sqrt{7})}{(4-\sqrt{7})(4+\sqrt{7})}.
\]

mathsheadache said:
I thought you only divide the denominator only by the first part and not necessary to divide by the whole numerator?
When you simplify $(12+3)\cdot9$, you multiply both terms inside parentheses by 9:
\[
(12+3)\cdot9=12\cdot9+3\cdot 9
\]
You don't multiply just 12:
\[
(12+3)\cdot9\ne12\cdot9+3
\]
The same happens with division:
\[
(12+3)\cdot\frac{1}{9}=12\cdot\frac{1}{9}+3\cdot\frac{1}{9}.
\]
And the same happens with your expression:
\[
(12+3\sqrt{7})\cdot\frac{1}{9}=12\cdot\frac{1}{9}+3\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}.
\]
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
The value of $c$ is 2 since the answer should be in the form $a+b\sqrt{c}$.

You still have \sqrt{7) in two places. The correct expression should be [m]\displaystyle \frac{3(4+\sqrt{7})}{(4-\sqrt{7})(4+\sqrt{7})}[/m], which gives
\[
\frac{3(4+\sqrt{7})}{(4-\sqrt{7})(4+\sqrt{7})}.
\]

When you simplify $(12+3)\cdot9$, you multiply both terms inside parentheses by 9:
\[
(12+3)\cdot9=12\cdot9+3\cdot 9
\]
You don't multiply just 12:
\[
(12+3)\cdot9\ne12\cdot9+3
\]
The same happens with division:
\[
(12+3)\cdot\frac{1}{9}=12\cdot\frac{1}{9}+3\cdot\frac{1}{9}.
\]
And the same happens with your expression:
\[
(12+3\sqrt{7})\cdot\frac{1}{9}=12\cdot\frac{1}{9}+3\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}.
\]

I am slightly confused. So in regards to my questions, have I got them right so far until the simplifying part? So what I would have to do is $$\frac{1}{9}\cdot\quad(12+3\sqrt{7})$$ .. onto each individual part as you have explained. $$12\cdot\frac{1}{9}$$ equal to $$\frac{4}{3}$$? How would you times $$3\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}$$?
 
mathsheadache said:
So in regards to my questions, have I got them right so far until the simplifying part?
I believe so, though this depends on what you mean by the "simplifying part". It could be argued that the whole transformation you are doing is simplification.

mathsheadache said:
So what I would have to do is $$\frac{1}{9}\cdot\quad(12+3\sqrt{7})$$ .. onto each individual part as you have explained.
Yes.

mathsheadache said:
$$12\cdot\frac{1}{9}$$ equal to $$\frac{4}{3}$$?
Yes.

mathsheadache said:
How would you times $$3\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}$$?
Well, $3\cdot\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}=3\cdot\frac19\cdot\sqrt7$. I hope you can simplify $3\cdot\frac19$?

All in all,
\[
\frac{a+b}{c}=(a+b)\cdot\frac{1}{c}=a\cdot\frac{1}{c}+b\cdot\frac{1}{c}=\frac{a}{c}+\frac{b}{c}.
\]
Knowing this law is a prerequisite to trasformations you are trying to do.
 
Evgeny.Makarov said:
I believe so, though this depends on what you mean by the "simplifying part". It could be argued that the whole transformation you are doing is simplification.

Yes.

Yes.

Well, $3\cdot\sqrt{7}\cdot\frac{1}{9}=3\cdot\frac19\cdot\sqrt7$. I hope you can simplify $3\cdot\frac19$?

All in all,
\[
\frac{a+b}{c}=(a+b)\cdot\frac{1}{c}=a\cdot\frac{1}{c}+b\cdot\frac{1}{c}=\frac{a}{c}+\frac{b}{c}.
\]
Knowing this law is a prerequisite to trasformations you are trying to do.

$$3\cdot\frac{1}{9}$$ equal to $$\frac{1}{3}$$? My only doubts would be when you times say $$\frac{1}{3}$$ by a square root e.g $$\sqrt{7}$$
 
mathsheadache said:
My only doubts would be when you times say $$\frac{1}{3}$$ by a square root e.g $$\sqrt{7}$$
You can multiply both sides of an equation by the same number, e.g.:
\[
3\cdot\frac{1}{9}=\frac{1}{3}\implies
3\cdot\frac{1}{9}\cdot\sqrt{7}=\frac{1}{3}\cdot\sqrt{7}.
\]
 

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