paddyzk wrote: » Was doing the 2011 pre paper and couldn't rap my head round this: (√5 -1/√2)(√5 +1/√5).Give answer in the form a(1 -1/√b),where a and b are natural numbers. When I simplify it I get 6 -3√10/5
Musicmental85 wrote: » Ok this is tough to write but here goes: rt5Xrt5 + rt5/rt5 - rt5/rt2 - 1/rt2rt5 5+1- rt5/rt2 -1/rt2rt5 6 - rt5/rt2 -1/rt2rt5. Now get a common denominator which is rt5rt2 {6rt5rt2 - (rt5)(rt5) -(1)(1)}/rt2rt5 {6rt2rt5 - 5 - 1}/rt2rt5 6rt2rt5/rt2rt5 -6/rt2rt5. Now remember rt2rt5 is the same as rt10 6 -6/rt2rt5 = 6(1 - 1/rt10) A=6 and b=10 If there's any step you don't understand let me know
Musicmental85 wrote: » Where is that or is that a general question? If you mean on the first line it was rt5(1/rt5) not rt5(1/5)
Musicmental85 wrote: » Thats some very bad hand written on a pad detailed first line or so. Remember that multiplying fractions is top by top, bottom by bottom so the root5's end up cancelling out