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Simplify radical expressions by rationalizing the denominator.

A worksheet with 9 math problems involving simplifying radical expressions by rationalizing the denominator.

A worksheet with 9 math problems involving simplifying radical expressions by rationalizing the denominator.

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Let's simplify each radical expression by rationalizing the denominator. Rationalizing means eliminating radicals from the denominator, usually by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator (when it's a binomial with radicals) or by the radical itself (when it's a single radical).

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13. $\frac{7}{2 - \sqrt{6}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate $2 + \sqrt{6}$:

$$
\frac{7}{2 - \sqrt{6}} \cdot \frac{2 + \sqrt{6}}{2 + \sqrt{6}} = \frac{7(2 + \sqrt{6})}{(2)^2 - (\sqrt{6})^2} = \frac{7(2 + \sqrt{6})}{4 - 6} = \frac{7(2 + \sqrt{6})}{-2}
$$

$$
= -\frac{7(2 + \sqrt{6})}{2} = -\frac{14 + 7\sqrt{6}}{2}
$$

✔ Answer: $-\frac{14 + 7\sqrt{6}}{2}$

---

14. $\frac{5 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{5}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate $3 - \sqrt{5}$:

$$
\frac{5 - \sqrt{3}}{3 + \sqrt{5}} \cdot \frac{3 - \sqrt{5}}{3 - \sqrt{5}} = \frac{(5 - \sqrt{3})(3 - \sqrt{5})}{(3)^2 - (\sqrt{5})^2} = \frac{(5 - \sqrt{3})(3 - \sqrt{5})}{9 - 5} = \frac{(5 - \sqrt{3})(3 - \sqrt{5})}{4}
$$

Now expand the numerator:

$$
(5)(3) = 15,\quad 5(-\sqrt{5}) = -5\sqrt{5},\quad (-\sqrt{3})(3) = -3\sqrt{3},\quad (-\sqrt{3})(-\sqrt{5}) = \sqrt{15}
$$

So numerator: $15 - 5\sqrt{5} - 3\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{15}$

$$
\Rightarrow \frac{15 - 5\sqrt{5} - 3\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{15}}{4}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{15 - 5\sqrt{5} - 3\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{15}}{4}$

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15. $\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by $\sqrt{3}$ to rationalize:

$$
\frac{3\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{3}} = \frac{3\sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{3}}{3} = \frac{3\sqrt{6}}{3} = \sqrt{6}
$$

✔ Answer: $\sqrt{6}$

---

16. $\frac{5}{2 - \sqrt{5}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate $2 + \sqrt{5}$:

$$
\frac{5}{2 - \sqrt{5}} \cdot \frac{2 + \sqrt{5}}{2 + \sqrt{5}} = \frac{5(2 + \sqrt{5})}{(2)^2 - (\sqrt{5})^2} = \frac{5(2 + \sqrt{5})}{4 - 5} = \frac{5(2 + \sqrt{5})}{-1} = -5(2 + \sqrt{5})
$$

$$
= -10 - 5\sqrt{5}
$$

✔ Answer: $-10 - 5\sqrt{5}$

---

17. $\frac{\sqrt{5}}{6 - \sqrt{5}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate $6 + \sqrt{5}$:

$$
\frac{\sqrt{5}}{6 - \sqrt{5}} \cdot \frac{6 + \sqrt{5}}{6 + \sqrt{5}} = \frac{\sqrt{5}(6 + \sqrt{5})}{(6)^2 - (\sqrt{5})^2} = \frac{6\sqrt{5} + 5}{36 - 5} = \frac{6\sqrt{5} + 5}{31}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{5 + 6\sqrt{5}}{31}$

---

18. $\frac{6\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{2}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by $\sqrt{2}$:

$$
\frac{6\sqrt{3}}{\sqrt{2}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{2}} = \frac{6\sqrt{6}}{2} = 3\sqrt{6}
$$

✔ Answer: $3\sqrt{6}$

---

19. $\frac{8 - \sqrt{2}}{2 - \sqrt{3}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by the conjugate $2 + \sqrt{3}$:

$$
\frac{8 - \sqrt{2}}{2 - \sqrt{3}} \cdot \frac{2 + \sqrt{3}}{2 + \sqrt{3}} = \frac{(8 - \sqrt{2})(2 + \sqrt{3})}{(2)^2 - (\sqrt{3})^2} = \frac{(8 - \sqrt{2})(2 + \sqrt{3})}{4 - 3} = (8 - \sqrt{2})(2 + \sqrt{3})
$$

Now expand:

$$
8 \cdot 2 = 16,\quad 8 \cdot \sqrt{3} = 8\sqrt{3},\quad -\sqrt{2} \cdot 2 = -2\sqrt{2},\quad -\sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{3} = -\sqrt{6}
$$

So total: $16 + 8\sqrt{3} - 2\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{6}$

✔ Answer: $16 + 8\sqrt{3} - 2\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{6}$

---

20. $\frac{8}{\sqrt{5}}$



Multiply numerator and denominator by $\sqrt{5}$:

$$
\frac{8}{\sqrt{5}} \cdot \frac{\sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{5}} = \frac{8\sqrt{5}}{5}
$$

✔ Answer: $\frac{8\sqrt{5}}{5}$

---

21. $\frac{\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{5} - \sqrt{2}}$



Notice that the numerator is the negative of the denominator:

$$
\frac{\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{5}}{\sqrt{5} - \sqrt{2}} = \frac{-(\sqrt{5} - \sqrt{2})}{\sqrt{5} - \sqrt{2}} = -1
$$

✔ Answer: $-1$

---

✔ Final Answers:



| Problem | Simplified Expression |
|--------|------------------------|
| 13. | $-\frac{14 + 7\sqrt{6}}{2}$ |
| 14. | $\frac{15 - 5\sqrt{5} - 3\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{15}}{4}$ |
| 15. | $\sqrt{6}$ |
| 16. | $-10 - 5\sqrt{5}$ |
| 17. | $\frac{5 + 6\sqrt{5}}{31}$ |
| 18. | $3\sqrt{6}$ |
| 19. | $16 + 8\sqrt{3} - 2\sqrt{2} - \sqrt{6}$ |
| 20. | $\frac{8\sqrt{5}}{5}$ |
| 21. | $-1$ |

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Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of rationalizing the denominator worksheet.
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