How do you divide (4 + sqrt2)/(3sqrt3 - sqrt6)?

1 Answer
Mar 24, 2015

Simplify the denominator by remembering that
(a - b) xx (a + b) = (a^2 - b^2)
and therefore we can get rid of the roots in the denominator by multiplying by 3sqrt(3) + sqrt(6)

Of course if we multiply the denominator by 3sqrt(3) + sqrt(6) we will have to multiply the numerator by that amount as well.

(4 + sqrt(2))/(3sqrt(3)-sqrt(6)) * (3sqrt(3)+sqrt(6))/(3sqrt(3)+sqrt(6))

= (4(3sqrt(3)+sqrt(6)) + sqrt(2)(3sqrt(3)+sqrt(6)))/(27 - 6)

= (12 sqrt(3) + 4 sqrt(6) + 3sqrt(6) + sqrt(12))/21

= (12sqrt(3) + 7sqrt(6) + sqrt(12))/21

or
sqrt(3) (12 + 7sqrt(2) + sqrt(4))/21

= sqrt(3) (14 + 7sqrt(2))/21

= 7sqrt(3) * (2 + sqrt(2))/3

or, possibly
= 7 (2+sqrt(2))/sqrt(3)