1.02b Surds: manipulation and rationalising denominators

265 questions

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CAIE P1 2022 June Q5
7 marks Moderate -0.3
5
  1. Solve the equation \(6 \sqrt { y } + \frac { 2 } { \sqrt { y } } - 7 = 0\).
  2. Hence solve the equation \(6 \sqrt { \tan x } + \frac { 2 } { \sqrt { \tan x } } - 7 = 0\) for \(0 ^ { \circ } \leqslant x \leqslant 360 ^ { \circ }\).
CAIE P1 2023 November Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.8
2 The circle with equation \(( x - 3 ) ^ { 2 } + ( y - 5 ) ^ { 2 } = 40\) intersects the \(y\)-axis at points \(A\) and \(B\).
  1. Find the \(y\)-coordinates of \(A\) and \(B\), expressing your answers in terms of surds.
  2. Find the equation of the circle which has \(A B\) as its diameter.
CAIE P1 2006 November Q10
10 marks Moderate -0.8
10 The function f is defined by \(\mathrm { f } : x \mapsto x ^ { 2 } - 3 x\) for \(x \in \mathbb { R }\).
  1. Find the set of values of \(x\) for which \(\mathrm { f } ( x ) > 4\).
  2. Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form \(( x - a ) ^ { 2 } - b\), stating the values of \(a\) and \(b\).
  3. Write down the range of f .
  4. State, with a reason, whether f has an inverse. The function g is defined by \(\mathrm { g } : x \mapsto x - 3 \sqrt { } x\) for \(x \geqslant 0\).
  5. Solve the equation \(\mathrm { g } ( x ) = 10\).
CAIE P2 2022 June Q7
8 marks Standard +0.8
7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{1b9c6b41-69dd-4132-92c7-9507cbd741dd-10_551_657_274_735} The diagram shows the curves \(y = \sqrt { 2 \pi - 2 x }\) and \(y = \sin ^ { 2 } x\) for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). The shaded region is bounded by the two curves and the line \(x = 0\). Find the exact area of the shaded region.
CAIE P2 2022 June Q7
8 marks Challenging +1.2
7 \includegraphics[max width=\textwidth, alt={}, center]{712be8e6-e1e9-4662-b1f1-51c39c2c9df1-10_551_657_274_735} The diagram shows the curves \(y = \sqrt { 2 \pi - 2 x }\) and \(y = \sin ^ { 2 } x\) for \(0 \leqslant x \leqslant \pi\). The shaded region is bounded by the two curves and the line \(x = 0\). Find the exact area of the shaded region.
CAIE P3 2015 June Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.8
2 Using the substitution \(u = 4 ^ { x }\), solve the equation \(4 ^ { x } + 4 ^ { 2 } = 4 ^ { x + 2 }\), giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
CAIE P3 2019 March Q3
6 marks Standard +0.3
3
  1. Given that \(\sin \left( \theta + 45 ^ { \circ } \right) + 2 \cos \left( \theta + 60 ^ { \circ } \right) = 3 \cos \theta\), find the exact value of \(\tan \theta\) in a form involving surds. You need not simplify your answer.
  2. Hence solve the equation \(\sin \left( \theta + 45 ^ { \circ } \right) + 2 \cos \left( \theta + 60 ^ { \circ } \right) = 3 \cos \theta\) for \(0 ^ { \circ } < \theta < 360 ^ { \circ }\).
CAIE P3 2006 November Q5
6 marks Standard +0.8
5
  1. Simplify \(( \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) ) ( \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) - \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) )\), showing your working, and deduce that $$\frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) } = \frac { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) - \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) } { 2 x }$$
  2. Using this result, or otherwise, obtain the expansion of $$\frac { 1 } { \sqrt { } ( 1 + x ) + \sqrt { } ( 1 - x ) }$$ in ascending powers of \(x\), up to and including the term in \(x ^ { 2 }\).
CAIE Further Paper 1 2020 November Q3
7 marks Challenging +1.2
3
  1. By simplifying \(\left( x ^ { n } - \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n } + 1 } \right) \left( x ^ { n } + \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n } + 1 } \right)\), show that \(\frac { 1 } { x ^ { n } - \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n } + 1 } } = - x ^ { n } - \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n } + 1 }\). [1]
    Let \(u _ { n } = x ^ { n + 1 } + \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n + 2 } + 1 } + \frac { 1 } { x ^ { n } - \sqrt { x ^ { 2 n } + 1 } }\).
  2. Use the method of differences to find \(\sum _ { \mathrm { n } = 1 } ^ { \mathrm { N } } \mathrm { u } _ { \mathrm { n } }\) in terms of \(N\) and \(x\).
  3. Deduce the set of values of \(x\) for which the infinite series $$u _ { 1 } + u _ { 2 } + u _ { 3 } + \ldots$$ is convergent and give the sum to infinity when this exists.
Edexcel P1 2021 January Q7
9 marks Moderate -0.3
7. In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable. $$f ( x ) = 2 x - 3 \sqrt { x } - 5 \quad x > 0$$
  1. Solve the equation $$f ( x ) = 9$$
  2. Solve the equation $$\mathrm { f } ^ { \prime \prime } ( x ) = 6$$
Edexcel P1 2022 January Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working.
Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.
  1. $$f ( x ) = ( x + \sqrt { 2 } ) ^ { 2 } + ( 3 x - 5 \sqrt { 8 } ) ^ { 2 }$$ Express \(\mathrm { f } ( x )\) in the form \(a x ^ { 2 } + b x \sqrt { 2 } + c\) where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
  2. Solve the equation $$\sqrt { 3 } ( 4 y - 3 \sqrt { 3 } ) = 5 y + \sqrt { 3 }$$ giving your answer in the form \(p + q \sqrt { 3 }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are simplified fractions to be found.
Edexcel P1 2019 June Q2
5 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. Answer this question showing each stage of your working.
    1. Simplify \(\frac { 1 } { 4 - 2 \sqrt { 2 } }\) giving your answer in the form \(a + b \sqrt { 2 }\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are rational numbers.
    2. Hence, or otherwise, solve the equation
    $$4 x = 2 \sqrt { 2 } x + 20 \sqrt { 2 }$$ giving your answer in the form \(p + q \sqrt { 2 }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are rational numbers.
Edexcel P1 2022 June Q3
5 marks Moderate -0.8
3. In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.
  1. Show that \(\frac { \sqrt { 180 } - \sqrt { 80 } } { \sqrt { 5 } }\) is an integer and find its value.
  2. Simplify $$\frac { 4 \sqrt { 5 } - 5 } { 7 - 3 \sqrt { 5 } }$$ giving your answer in the form \(a + b \sqrt { 5 }\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are rational numbers.
Edexcel P1 2023 June Q6
7 marks Moderate -0.8
  1. In this question you must show all stages of your working. Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable.
    1. Expand and simplify
    $$\left( r - \frac { 1 } { r } \right) ^ { 2 }$$
  2. Express \(\frac { 1 } { 3 + 2 \sqrt { 2 } }\) in the form \(p + q \sqrt { 2 }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers.
  3. Use the results of parts (a) and (b), or otherwise, to show that $$\sqrt { 3 + 2 \sqrt { 2 } } - \frac { 1 } { \sqrt { 3 + 2 \sqrt { 2 } } } = 2$$
Edexcel P1 2024 June Q2
6 marks Easy -1.2
    1. Given that \(m = 2 ^ { n }\), express each of the following in simplest form in terms of \(m\).
      1. \(2 ^ { n + 3 }\)
    2. \(16 ^ { 3 n }\) (ii) In this question you must show all stages of your working.
    Solutions relying on calculator technology are not acceptable. Solve the equation $$x \sqrt { 3 } - 3 = x + \sqrt { 3 }$$ giving your answer in the form \(p + q \sqrt { 3 }\) where \(p\) and \(q\) are integers.
Edexcel P1 2019 October Q8
5 marks Standard +0.3
8. Solve, using algebra, the equation $$x - 6 x ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } } + 4 = 0$$ Fully simplify your answers, writing them in the form \(a + b \sqrt { c }\), where \(a , b\) and \(c\) are integers to be found.
(5)
Edexcel P1 2023 October Q1
5 marks Easy -1.3
  1. Given that
$$y = 5 x ^ { 3 } + \frac { 3 } { x ^ { 2 } } - 7 x \quad x > 0$$ find, in simplest form,
  1. \(\frac { \mathrm { d } y } { \mathrm {~d} x }\)
  2. \(\frac { \mathrm { d } ^ { 2 } y } { \mathrm {~d} x ^ { 2 } }\)
Edexcel P1 2023 October Q2
4 marks Easy -1.2
  1. Given that
$$a = \frac { 1 } { 64 } x ^ { 2 } \quad b = \frac { 16 } { \sqrt { x } }$$ express each of the following in the form \(k x ^ { n }\) where \(k\) and \(n\) are simplified constants.
  1. \(a ^ { \frac { 1 } { 2 } }\)
  2. \(\frac { 16 } { b ^ { 3 } }\)
  3. \(\left( \frac { a b } { 2 } \right) ^ { - \frac { 4 } { 3 } }\)
Edexcel C12 2014 January Q4
7 marks Moderate -0.8
4. Answer this question without the use of a calculator and show all your working.
  1. Show that $$\frac { 4 } { 2 \sqrt { 2 } - \sqrt { 6 } } = 2 \sqrt { 2 } ( 2 + \sqrt { 3 } )$$
  2. Show that $$\sqrt { 27 } + \sqrt { 21 } \times \sqrt { 7 } - \frac { 6 } { \sqrt { 3 } } = 8 \sqrt { 3 }$$
Edexcel C12 2015 January Q1
3 marks Easy -1.8
Simplify the following expressions fully.
  1. \(\left( x ^ { 6 } \right) ^ { \frac { 1 } { 3 } }\)
  2. \(\sqrt { 2 } \left( x ^ { 3 } \right) \div \sqrt { \frac { 32 } { x ^ { 2 } } }\)
Edexcel C12 2016 January Q2
5 marks Easy -1.2
2. (i) Given that \(\frac { 49 } { \sqrt { 7 } } = 7 ^ { a }\), find the value of \(a\).
(ii) Show that \(\frac { 10 } { \sqrt { 18 } - 4 } = 15 \sqrt { 2 } + 20\) You must show all stages of your working.
Edexcel C12 2019 January Q3
4 marks Moderate -0.8
3. A curve has equation $$y = \sqrt { 2 } x ^ { 2 } - 6 \sqrt { x } + 4 \sqrt { 2 } , \quad x > 0$$ Find the gradient of the curve at the point \(P ( 2,2 \sqrt { 2 } )\).
Write your answer in the form \(a \sqrt { 2 }\), where \(a\) is a constant.
(Solutions based entirely on graphical or numerical methods are not acceptable.) \(L\)
Edexcel C12 2014 June Q2
4 marks Moderate -0.8
2. Without using your calculator, solve $$x \sqrt { 27 } + 21 = \frac { 6 x } { \sqrt { 3 } }$$ Write your answer in the form \(a \sqrt { b }\) where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers. You must show all stages of your working.
Edexcel C12 2016 June Q3
7 marks Moderate -0.8
3. Answer this question without a calculator, showing all your working and giving your answers in their simplest form.
  1. Solve the equation $$4 ^ { 2 x + 1 } = 8 ^ { 4 x }$$
  2. (a) Express $$3 \sqrt { 18 } - \sqrt { 32 }$$ in the form \(k \sqrt { 2 }\), where \(k\) is an integer.
    (b) Hence, or otherwise, solve $$3 \sqrt { 18 } - \sqrt { 32 } = \sqrt { n }$$
Edexcel C12 2017 June Q2
4 marks Easy -1.3
  1. Simplify the following expressions fully.
    1. \(\left( \frac { 1 } { 9 } x ^ { 4 } \right) ^ { 0.5 }\)
    2. \(\left( \frac { x } { \sqrt { 2 } } \right) ^ { - 2 }\)
    3. \(x \sqrt { 3 } \div \sqrt { \frac { 48 } { x ^ { 4 } } }\)