For Individual or Group Work (Exercises 147 – 150)In calculus, it is sometimes desirable to rationalize a numerator. To do this, we multiply the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the numerator. For example,6 - √2 = 6 - √2 • 6 + √2 = 36 - 2 = 34 = 17 . 4 4 6 + √2 4(6 + √2) 4(6 + √2) 2(6 + √2)Rationalize each numerator.6 - √3 8
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Identify the expression to rationalize: \( \frac{6 - \sqrt{3}}{8} \).
Determine the conjugate of the numerator \(6 - \sqrt{3}\), which is \(6 + \sqrt{3}\).
Multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate: \( \frac{(6 - \sqrt{3})(6 + \sqrt{3})}{8(6 + \sqrt{3})} \).
Apply the difference of squares formula to the numerator: \((6)^2 - (\sqrt{3})^2\).
Simplify the expression: \( \frac{36 - 3}{8(6 + \sqrt{3})} \).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Rationalization
Rationalization is a mathematical technique used to eliminate radicals or irrational numbers from the denominator or numerator of a fraction. This is typically achieved by multiplying both the numerator and the denominator by a conjugate, which is a binomial formed by changing the sign between two terms. This process simplifies the expression and makes it easier to work with, especially in calculus and algebra.
The conjugate of a binomial expression is formed by changing the sign of the second term. For example, the conjugate of 'a + b' is 'a - b'. In the context of rationalization, multiplying by the conjugate helps to eliminate square roots or other radicals, resulting in a simpler expression. This is particularly useful when dealing with expressions that involve square roots in the numerator or denominator.
Simplifying expressions involves reducing a mathematical expression to its simplest form, making it easier to understand and work with. This can include combining like terms, factoring, and rationalizing denominators or numerators. In the context of the given problem, simplifying the expression after rationalization is crucial for obtaining a clear and concise result, which is essential in calculus and other areas of mathematics.