## squaring binomial irrationals

Simplificatation, evaluation, linear equations, linear graphs, linear inequalities, basic word problems, etc.
Motherof8
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### squaring binomial irrationals

The problem is 1- the square root of 3 /2 squared. When you work it out it is 1-2xthe square root of 3 + 3/4. They say the final answer is 2 - the square root of 3 /2. I can see how they got the other numbers, but how did they get the 2 on the bottom?

stapel_eliz
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Motherof8 wrote:The problem is 1- the square root of 3 /2 squared.

Does the above mean the following?

. . . . .$\left(1\, -\, \sqrt{\frac{3}{2}}\right)^2$

Were the instructions to "simplify"?

Thank you!

Motherof8
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### Re: squaring binomial irrationals

Actually, the problem was (1- the square root of 3) over 2. The whole thing is in parenthesis and is squared. I hope this makes it clearer.

stapel_eliz
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Motherof8 wrote:Actually, the problem was (1- the square root of 3) over 2. The whole thing is in parenthesis and is squared. I hope this makes it clearer.

So the expression is as follows?

. . . . .$\left(\frac{1\, -\, \sqrt{3}}{2}\right)^2$

And the instructions were to "simplify"?

When you reply, please include the steps in your work (between the exercise and your simplified form), so we can try to find any errors. Thank you!

Motherof8
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Joined: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:32 am
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### Re: squaring binomial irrationals

Yes, that was the right expression. I multiplied ()1-the square root of 3) over 2 by itself. I got1 -2 x the square root of 3+3 over 4. Simplified,3-2 =1 +1 =2, but why is the four on the bottom reduced to a 2?

stapel_eliz
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Motherof8 wrote:Yes, that was the right expression. I multiplied ()1-the square root of 3) over 2 by itself. I got1 -2 x the square root of 3+3 over 4. Simplified,3-2 =1 +1 =2...

How did:

. . . . .$1\, -\, 2\sqrt{3}\, +\, 3$

...turn into "2"? What happened to the square root?