GCSE Maths Number Surds

Simplifying surds

Simplifying Surds

Here we will learn about simplifying surds for GCSE maths including the definition of a surd, the rules of surds, and how to write surds in their simplest form.

There are also simplifying surds worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go next if you’re still stuck.

What is simplifying surds?

Simplifying surds is where we rewrite a surd in its simplest form by ensuring the number underneath the root sign (this number is called the radicand) has no square numbers as factors. We make the number as small as possible by extracting square factors from underneath the root sign.

We can use the three important laws of surds, which can be derived from the laws of indices (powers) to help us to simplify surds:

\[\sqrt{m} \times \sqrt{n}=\sqrt{m n}\]

\[\sqrt{m} \div \sqrt{n}=\sqrt{\frac{m}{n}}\]

\[\sqrt{m} \times \sqrt{m}=m\]

E.g.

\[\begin{aligned} \sqrt{20} &=\sqrt{4 \times 5} \\ &=\sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{5} \\ &=2 \times \sqrt{5} \\ &=2 \sqrt{5} \end{aligned}\]

What is simplifying surds?

What is simplifying surds?

How to simplify surds

In order to simplify a surd:

  1. Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.
  2. Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.
  3. Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

How to simplify surds

How to simplify surds

Simplifying surds worksheet

Simplifying surds worksheet

Simplifying surds worksheet

Get your free simplifying surds worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

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Simplifying surds worksheet

Simplifying surds worksheet

Simplifying surds worksheet

Get your free simplifying surds worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE

Simplifying surds examples

Example 1: A simple integer

Simplify:

\[\sqrt{8}\]

  1. Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Square numbers are 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, …

4 is a factor of 8 (because 4 × 2 = 8).

2Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

\[\begin{aligned} \sqrt{8} &=\sqrt{4 \times 2} \\ &=\sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{2} \\ &=2 \times \sqrt{2} \\ &=2 \sqrt{2} \end{aligned}\]

3Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

In this case, there are no square numbers that are factors of 2, so the surd is fully simplified.

\[\sqrt{8}=2 \sqrt{2}\]

Example 2: A simple integer

Simplify:

\[\sqrt{45}\]

Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

Example 3: A larger integer

Simplify:

\[\sqrt{240}\]

Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

Example 4: A larger integer

Simplify:

\[\sqrt{108}\]

Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

Example 5: Strategies for very large integers

Simplify:

\[\sqrt{720}\]

Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

The prime factor tree method for larger numbers

This is an alternative method for simplifying surds that is very effective for larger numbers. It is similar to, and based on, prime factor trees.

Find any factor pair of the radicand – like a prime factor tree.

Continue like a prime factor tree, until the numbers under the square root signs are either primes or squares.

Beginning with the square numbers, write out as a product as you would with a prime factor tree. Then simplify the answer.

Example 6: A partially simplified surd expression

Simplify:

\[3 \times 4 \sqrt{54}\]

Remember that this means

\[3 \times 4 \times \sqrt{54}\]

Or

\[12 \times \sqrt{54}\]

So all we need to do is deal with the root 54 as with the previous examples.

Find a square number that is a factor of the number under the root.

Rewrite the surd as a product of this square number and another number, then evaluate the root of the square number.

Repeat if the number under the root still has square factors.

Common misconceptions

  • Incorrectly rewriting the number under the square root sign (the radicand) as a product of any two factors

One of these factors must be a square number in order for you to be able to simplify the surd.

  • Not simplifying fully

Always check that there are no square factors of the number under the root.

Simplifying surds is part of our series of lessons to support revision on surds. You may find it helpful to start with the main surds lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual topics. Other lessons in this series include:

Practice simplifying surds questions

1. Simplify: \sqrt{9}

\sqrt{3}
GCSE Quiz False

3
GCSE Quiz True

9
GCSE Quiz False

81
GCSE Quiz False

The square root of 9 is 3 (this is a rational number, so the square root of 9 is not a surd).

2. Simplify: \sqrt{20}

2 \sqrt{10}
GCSE Quiz False

4 \sqrt{5}
GCSE Quiz False

5 \sqrt{4}
GCSE Quiz False

2 \sqrt{5}
GCSE Quiz True

4 is the largest square factor of 20,  (4\times5=20) . The square root of 4 is 2 .

3. Simplify: \sqrt{15}

3 \sqrt{5}
GCSE Quiz False

2 \sqrt{15}
GCSE Quiz False

\sqrt{15}
GCSE Quiz True

5 \sqrt{3}
GCSE Quiz False

There are no square numbers that are factors of 15 , so this surd is already simplified as far as possible.

4. Simplify: \sqrt{150}

6\sqrt{5}
GCSE Quiz False

\sqrt{150}
GCSE Quiz False

10\sqrt{15}
GCSE Quiz False

5\sqrt{6}
GCSE Quiz True

25 is the largest square factor of 150, (25\times6=150) . The square root of 25 is 5 .

5. Simplify: \sqrt{368}

4\sqrt{23}
GCSE Quiz True

4\sqrt{92}
GCSE Quiz False

2\sqrt{23}
GCSE Quiz False

2\sqrt{92}
GCSE Quiz False

16 is the largest square factor of 368,  (16\times23=368) . The square root of 16 is 4 .

6. Simplify: 3\sqrt{280}

12\sqrt{70}
GCSE Quiz False

6\sqrt{70}
GCSE Quiz True

6\sqrt{140}
GCSE Quiz False

9\sqrt{140}
GCSE Quiz False

4 is the largest square factor of 280, (4\times70=280) . The square root of 4 is 2 , so \sqrt{280}=2 \sqrt{70} . Finally, multiply by the 3 to get 6\sqrt{70} .

Simplifying surds GCSE questions

1. Simplify
\sqrt{84}

 

(2 marks)

Show answer
\sqrt{84}=\sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{21}

(1)

2 \sqrt{21}

Correct answer

(1)

2. Simplify fully
\sqrt{540}

 

(2 marks)

Show answer
\sqrt{540}=\sqrt{36} \times \sqrt{15} \text { or } \sqrt{540}=\sqrt{4} \times \sqrt{135}

(1)

6 \sqrt{15}
Correct answer

(1)

3. \sqrt{912}=4\sqrt{k}
where k is an integer. Find the value of k .

 

(2 marks)

Show answer

\sqrt{912}=\sqrt{16}\times \sqrt{k}
or sight of 912\div16

(1)

4 \sqrt{57}
so k=57

(1)

4. Simplify fully
5 \sqrt{80}

 

(2 marks)

Show answer
5 \sqrt{80}=5\times\sqrt{5}\times\sqrt{16}

(1)

20\sqrt{5}
Correct answer

(1)

Learning checklist

You have now learned how to:

  • Identify a surd as an irrational root
  • Simplify surds

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