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Properties of Irrationals and Surds
- May 28, 2020
- Category: Properties of Irrationals and Surds
▪ The set P of all irrationals is not closed for addition, since the sum of two irrationals need not be irrational.
e.g. ( 5 + ) P, ( 5 – ) P but ( 5 + ) + ( 5 – ) = 10 P.
▪ The set P of all irrational is not closed for multiplication, since the product of two irrationals need not be irrational.
e.g. P, – P but (– ) = – 2 P.
Surd : If ‘a’ is a rational, ‘n’ is a positive integer and = is irrational, then is called ‘a’ surd of order ‘n’.
e.g. is a surd of order 2 & is a surd of order 3.
■ Comparison of Surds : If two surds are of the same order, then the one whose radicand is larger, is the larger of the two.
For Example : >
e.g. Which is larger or .
Soln. Given surds are of order 2 and 3 respectively whose L.C.M. is 6.
Taking 6th power of each surd, as shown below.
= = = 8
= = = 9
Clearly, 9 > 8. So, > > .
e.g. Simplify : + +
Soln. + +
= + +
= (4 + 9 + 2)
= 15.