Rationalizing denominators and numerators

Introductory example.
given that 2 1 rounded to 6 figures. Also suppose that you are not allowed to use a calculator. How can you tackle this problem? The straightforward approach is to divide 1.41421 1 = 0.41421 into 1 by performing an "old fashioned" long division. Note that 1 10 = , 0 .41421 4.1421 so we can divide 4.1421 into 10 to obtain the required decimal approximation. 2.41423 ___________________ 4.1421 | 10.000000000 8.2842 ________ 1.71580 1.65684 ___________ 0.058960 0.041421 _____________ 0.0175390 0.0165684 _____________ 0.00097060 0.00082842 ________________ 0.000142180 0.000124263 ________________ 0.000017917 1 2 1 is to use the technique of "rationalizing the denominator". 2 1 This technique makes use of the difference of two squares formula: An alternative way of evaluating the expression ( a b ) ( a + b ) = a2 b2 ------- (i). 1 Suppose that you are given the problem of obtaining an approximate decimal value for the expression 1 2 ~ 1.41421

This calculation shows that the expression

~ 2.4142, rounded to 5 digits.

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is an irrational number. However, the product ( 2 1 ) ( 2 + 1 ) is a rational 2 1 number. In fact it is the integer 1, since, using (i) with a = 2 and b = 1 gives: ( 2 1 ) ( 2 + 1 ) = ( 2 ) 12 = 2 1 = 1. Multiplying both numerator and denominator of 1 2 1 by 2 + 1 gives:
2

The denominator

2 1 in the expression

1 2 1

2 +1 ( 2 1) ( 2 + 1) = 2 + 1 ~ 2.41421.

2 +1 1

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This last value agrees with the value 2.4142 obtained previously, if it is rounded to 5 digits. Example 1: Rationalize the denominator for each of the following. Check your answer by using a calculator to verify that the value obtained by the final expression agrees approximately with the value of the original expression. 2 3 = 2 3 4 5 1 6 7 +2 2 3 6 1 3 2 1+ 2 2+ 2

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)

Solution: (a) 2 3 = 2 3 = 2 3 6 = 3 . 3 3 = 2. 3. 3 3

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A calculator can be used to show that: 2 3 (b) 4 5 1 = 4 5 1 . 5 +1 5 +1 = 4 ( 5 + 1) ( 5 + 1) 5 1 = 4 ( 5 + 1) 51 ~ 0.81650 ~ 6 3 .

= 5 + 1.

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A calculator can be used to show that 5 ~ 2.2361 and 4 5 1 (c) 6 7 +2 = 6 . ( 7 2) ( 7 + 2) . ( 7 2) =2 = 6 ( 7 2) 74 = 2 ( 7 2) ~ 3.2361 ~ 5 +1

7 4.

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A calculator can be used to show that 7 ~ 2.64575 and 6 7 +2 ~ 1.2915 ~ 2 7 4.

(d) 2 3 6 = 2 (3 + 6 ) (3 6 ) (3 + 6 ) 3 = 2 + 12 96 2 3 3 3 = 2 +2 3 3

= 2+

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A calculator can be used to show that 2 3 6 (e) 1 3 2 = 3+ 2 ( 3 2)( 3 + 2) = 3 + 2. = 3+ 2 32 ~ 2.5689 ~ 2+ 2 3 3 .

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A calculator can be used to show that 1 3 2 (f) 1+ 2 2+ 2 = (1 + 2 ) (2 2 ) (2 + 2 ) (2 2 ) 2 = 2 . = 2 2 +2 42 2 2 ~ 3.1463 ~ 3 + 2.

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A calculator can be used to show that 1+ 2 2+ 2 2 2 ~ 0.70711 ~ .

Rationalizing numerators. Rationalizing the numerator of an expression that contains radicals is a similar technique to that of to rationalizing the denominator. It is a useful technique to apply in some situations.
Consider the expression 199000 60000 11 . 11 ~ 198996 or 199000 rounded to 5 digits. 199000 60000 11 ~ 0.

Since 11 ~ 3.3166, rounded to 5 digits, 60000 This gives

The value of the expression is not zero as can be seen by retaining more digits in the calculation. The value obtained by retaining all 6 digits of 198996 is 199000 198996 = 4, but this value is not even accurate to one digit as we shall see shortly. Entering and evaluating the expression 199000 60000 gives the result 11 with a particular calculator that displays results with 10 significant digits 2.51257869.

This is a lot more accurate than the previous result. It is likely that this calculator actually performs the calculation using about 14 digits and rounds the final result to 9 digits. Accuracy is lost if the calculation is performed in stages. 60000 Entering the subtraction 199000 198997.4874 on this calculator by hand gives the result 2.5126, which has just 5 significant digits. This calculation can be performed with pencil and paper to see that it is correct. 199000.0000 198997.4874 _______________ 2.5126 Rationalizing the numerator of 199000 60000 1000 ( 199 60 1 11 gives 11 ) 1000 ( 199 60 11 ) ( 199 + 60 11 11 ) 1000 ( 39601 39600 ) 199 + 60 11 11 ~ 198997.4874

199000 60000

11 =

199 + 60 = 1000 199 + 60 11 .

Evaluating this expression avoids accuracy problems and gives 1000 199 + 60 11

~ 2.512578676.

This value is accurate to 10 digits. Notice that the last digit of the earlier value 2.51257869 is not correct Example 2: (a) Rationalize the numerator for the expression 49 20 6 . (b) Use a calculator to find a decimal approximation for the expression obtained in (a) which is as accurate as possible. Solution: (a) 49 20 6= ( 49 20 6 ) ( 49 + 20 6) = 1 = 49 + 20 6 492 ( 20 49 + 20 .
2

6) 6 =

2401 2400 49 + 20 6

49 + 20 6

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(b) Using a particular calculator which display results with at most 10 significant digits gives: 1 ~ 0.01020514434. 49 + 20 6 Note: 20 6 ~ 48.98979486. where this number is accurate to 10 digits. Subtracting this decimal value from 49 gives: 49 20 where this last number shows only 7 significant digits. 6 ~ 0.01020514,

Some calculators allow the complete expression 49 20 6 to be entered before evaluation. In such a case more than 10 digits may be used in the calculation with the result being rounded to 10 digits at the end. In this way a result with more than 7 digit accuracy may be obtained even with a calculator that displays answers with 10 digits.

Rationalizing numerators and denominators for algebraic expressions. The technique of rationalizing the denominator can be applied to certain rational expressions involving radicals in an attempt to dispose of any radicals that appear in the denominator.
Example 3: Simplify the following expressions by means of the technique of rationalizing the denominator. (a) Solution: (a) x x+1 1 = x ( x + 1 + 1) ( x + 1 1) ( x + 1 + 1) = x + 1 + 1. = x ( x + 1 + 1) (x + 1) 1 = x ( x + 1 + 1) x x x+1 1 (b) 1 a +1 (c) a a+ b (d) x4 x 2 (e) p 2 q2 p q .

_____
(b) 1 a +1 = a 1 ( a + 1) ( a 1) a 1 a1 = a 1 ( a ) 12
2

_____
(c) a a+ b = a ( a b) ( a + b)( a b) a ab ab = a a
2

b
2

( a) ( b)

_____
(d) x4 x 2 = (x 4) ( x + 2) ( x 2) ( x + 2) = (x 4) ( x + 2)
2

(x 4) ( x + 2) x4

( x) 2 = x + 2.

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Note: The expression can also be simplified by factoring the numerator as follows. x4 x 2 ( x 2) ( x + 2) x 2 = x + 2.

(e) p2 q2 p q = ( p2 q 2 ) ( p + q ) ( p q)( p + q) = ( p 2 q2 ) ( p + q )
2 2

(p q) (p + q) ( p + q ) pq

( p) ( q)

= ( p + q ) ( p + q ).

________
Example 4: Simplify the following expressions by means of the technique of rationalizing the numerator. 1 1 x +3 a 1 a b (a) (b) 3 (c) x9 ab a 1 Solution: (a) x +3 x9 = ( x + 3) ( x 3) (x 9) ( x 3) = ( x ) 32
2

(x 9) ( x 3) 1 . = x 3

x9 (x 9) ( x 3)

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Note: We obtain the same result by factoring the denominator as follows. x +3 x9 = x +3 ( x 3) ( x + 3) 1 = x 3 .

____
(b) a 1 a 1
3

( a 1) ( a + 1) (a 1) ( a + 1)
3

a1 (a 1) ( a + 1) 1
3

a1 (a 1) (a + a + 1) ( a + 1) .
2

(a + a + 1) ( a + 1)

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Note: The same result can be obtained by performing suitable factorisations. a 1 a 1
3

a 1 ( a 1 ) ( a2 + a + 1 ) a 1

( a 1 ) ( a + 1 ) ( a2 + a + 1 ) 1 = ( a + 1 )( a 2 + a + 1 ) .

__________

(c) 1 a ab 1 b = 1 1 1 1 + b a b a 1 1 (a b) + b a 1 a = 1 b

1 1 (a b) + a b ba ab

1 1 (a b) + b a . 1 1 1 (a b) + b a 1 1 1 ab + a b 1 = ab a + 1 = b a +a b ab b .

ba ab

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Note: The simplification can be achieved without rationalizing the numerator as follows. b a 1 1 a b a b = ab ab = b a a b . 1 ab 1 ( a b)( a + b) 1 a b ( a + b) 1 = a b +b a .

b a a b =

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Questions: Q1. Rationalize the denominator for each of the following and simplify if possible. 3 7 = 3 7 2 3 1 2 3+ 5 4+ 5 3 7+ 2 6 11 5

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e) 2

2 2+ 3

(f)

1+ 2 2 3

(g)

Q2. Rationalize the numerator for each of the following. 94 5 5

(a) 19 6

10

(b)

(c) 31 8

15

Q3. Use the technique of rationalising the numerator or denominator to simplify the following expressions. x 3 x9 4y
2 2

(a)

(b)

4x9 2 x +3

(c)

x 7+x 7

(d)

u+4 3 u5 1 1 2 x2 x

(e)

(f)

ab a b

(g)

a+b b a

(h)

y +y+1 y+1 Answers: Q1. (a ) 21 7 12 (b) 7 4 3 +1 2 +3 61 1 19 + 6 Q3. (a) 1 x +3 (e) 4 y2 + y + 1 + 4 1 1 1 2x + x 2 = 10 (b) 9 (b) 2 1 5 + 20 x 3 (c)

3 5 2

(d)

11 + 5 (e)

4 6 5

(f) 2 + 3 + 2

2+ 6

(g)

35 10

Q2. (a)

(c)

1 31 + 8 (c) 15 (d) 1 u+4 +3 (g) 1 a+b + b

7+x + 7

y+1 1

(f)

a+ b

(h)

x (2 + 2 x ) Version: 16/1/2009 Peter Stone