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VICMath MethodsQuick questions
Unit 1: Functions, relations and graphs
Quick questions on Surds and rational exponents (VCE Maths Methods Unit 1)
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is monomial denominator?Show answer
Multiply top and bottom by the surd: $\dfrac{1}{\sqrt 3} = \dfrac{\sqrt 3}{3}$.
What is binomial denominator?Show answer
Multiply by the conjugate: $\dfrac{1}{\sqrt 5 - 1} = \dfrac{\sqrt 5 + 1}{(\sqrt 5 - 1)(\sqrt 5 + 1)} = \dfrac{\sqrt 5 + 1}{4}$.
What is adding unlike surds?Show answer
$\sqrt 2 + \sqrt 3 \neq \sqrt 5$.
What is forgetting to rationalise?Show answer
Most exam answers expect the denominator to be rational.
What is confusing $a^{-n}$ with $-a^n$?Show answer
$5^{-2} = 1/25$, not $-25$.
What is mixing rational exponent rules?Show answer
$a^{m/n}$ is the $n$th root raised to the $m$th power, not the $m$th root raised to the $n$th power...
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