Question

Difficulty: EasySurds and Rationalisation

If 50+182=m\frac{\sqrt{50} + \sqrt{18}}{\sqrt{2}} = m, what is the value of the integer mm?

Answer: 8

Answer

The value of the integer mm is 8.
Simplifying 50\sqrt{50} to 525\sqrt{2} and 18\sqrt{18} to 323\sqrt{2} gives a numerator of 828\sqrt{2}. Dividing 828\sqrt{2} by 2\sqrt{2} cancels out the radical part, yielding the integer 8.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Simplify the radical expressions in the numerator.
50=52\sqrt{50} = 5\sqrt{2} and 18=32\sqrt{18} = 3\sqrt{2}.
Factor out perfect square numbers from within each radical.
2
Sum the simplified surds in the numerator.
52+32=825\sqrt{2} + 3\sqrt{2} = 8\sqrt{2}.
Surds with identical radicands are like terms and can be added by adding their coefficients.
3
Divide the numerator by the denominator.
822=8\frac{8\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}} = 8.
Cancel the common factor of 2\sqrt{2} present in both numerator and denominator.

Key Concept

Simplification and division of surds
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