Surds

This video from Maynooth University gives the definition of a surd, then explains how to identify what is and isn’t a surd. It also gives some helpful advice on how to recognise if a term involving a root can be simplified.

Note: All Maynooth University content is available for free at msc.maths.nuim.ie.

These notes from MathCentre introduce surds, their equivalent forms and the context in which they arise. There are exercises with answers included for you to practise with.

A pdf of this document can be downloaded here.

This NUMBAS exercise will help you get familiar with simplifying terms involving surds.

Please click here to view this NUMBAS question in another window.

This video from Khan Academy gives a nice overview of the different types of fractions whose denominator you may need to rationalise. It also includes an example of how to do this for an algebraic fraction.

Note: All Khan Academy content is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.

Page 7 onwards of these notes from MathCentre deal with how to rationalise fractions containing surd terms. There are exercises with answers included for you to practise with.

A pdf of this document can be downloaded here.

This NUMBAS exercise will let you practise rationalising the denominator in fractions involving surd terms.

Please click here to view this NUMBAS question in another window.