Surds Questions
Surds Past Edexcel Exam Questions
1. (a) (Question 1 - C1 May 2018)
Simplify
√ 6
48 − √
3
√
giving your answer in the form a 3, where a is an integer to be found. [2]
(b) (Indices Question)
2. (a) (Question 3 - C1 May 2016)
Simplify √ √
50 − 18
√
Write your answer in the form a 2, where a is an integer. [2]
(b) Hence, or otherwise, simplify √
12 3
√ √
50 − 18
√
giving your answer in the form b c where b and c are integers and b 6= 1. [3]
3. (Question 1 - C1 May 2015)
Simplify
√ 2
(a) 2 5 [1]
√ √
(b) √ 2√ giving your answer in the form a + b, where a and b are integers. [4]
2 5−3 2
4. (Question 6 - C1 May 2014)
√ √
(a) Write 80 in the form c 5, where c is a positive constant. [1]
√ √
A rectangle R has a length of 1 + 5 cm and an area of 80 cm2 .
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Surds Questions
√
(b) Calculate the width of R in cm. Express your answer in the form p + q 5, where
p and q are integers to be found. [4]
5. (Question 1 - C1 May 2013)
Simplify √
7+ 5
√
5−1
√
giving your answer in the form a + b 5, where a and b are integers. [4]
6. (Question 3 - C1 Jan 2013)
(a) Express √ √
5− 8 1+ 2
√
in the form a + b 2, where a and b are integers. [3]
(b) Express
√ 30
80 + √
5
√
in the form c 5, where c is an integer. [3]
7. (Question 3 - C1 May 2012)
√ √
Show that √ 2 √ can be written in the form a + b, where a and b are integers.
12− 8
[5]
8. (Question 2 - C1 Jan 2012)
(a) Simplify √ √
32 + 18
√
giving your answer in the form a 2, where a is an integer. [2]
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Surds Questions
(b) Simplify √ √
32 + 18
√ ,
3+ 2
√
giving your answer in the form b 2 + c, where b and c are integers. [4]
9. (Question 3 - C1 Jan 2011)
Simplify √
5−2 3
√ ,
3−1
√
giving your answer in the form p + q 3, where p and q are rational numbers. [4]
10. (Question 1 - C1 May 2010)
Write √ √
75 − 27
√
in the form k x, where k and x are integers. [2]
11. (Question 2 - C1 Jan 2010)
√ √
(a) Expand and simplify 7 + 5 3− 5 . [3]
√
7+√5
√
(b) Express 3+ 5
in the form a + b 5, where a and b are integers. [3]
12. (Question 1 - C1 Jun 2009)
Simplify
√ 2
(a) 3 7 , [1]
√ √
(b) 8 + 5 2 − 5 . [3]
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Surds Questions
13. (Question 3 - C1 Jan 2009)
√ √
Expand and simplify 7+2 7−2 . [2]
14. (Question 3 - C1 Jan 2008)
Simplify √
5− 3
√
2+ 3
√
giving your answer in the form a + b 3, where a and b are integers. [4]
15. (Question 1 - C1 May 2007)
√ √
Simplify 3 + 5 3 − 5 . [2]
16. (Question 2 - C1 Jan 2007)
√ √
(a) Express 108 in the form a 3, where a is an integer. [1]
√ 2 √
(b) Express 2 − 3 in the form b + c 3, where b and c are integers to be
found. [3]
17. (Question 6 - C1 May 2006)
√ √
(a) Expand and simplify 4 + 3 4− 3 . [2]
26
√
(b) Express √
4+ 3
in the form a + b 3, where a and b are integers. [2]
18. (Question 5 - C1 Jan 2006)
√ √
(a) Write 45 in the form a 5, where a is an integer. [1]
√
2(3+ 5) √
(b) Express 3−√5 in the form b + c 5, where b and c are integers. [5]
( )
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Surds Questions
Solutions
√
1. (a) 2 3, a = 2
(b) (Indices Question)
√
2. (a) 2 2, a = 2
√
(b) 3 6
3. (a) 20
√
(b) 3 + 10, a = 3, b = 10
√
4. (a) 4 5, c = 4
√
(b) 5 − 5, p = 5 q = −1
√
5. 3 + 2 5, a = 3, b = 2
√
6. (a) 1 + 3 2, a = 1 b = 3
√
(b) 10 5, c = 10
√ √
7. 3 + 2, a = 3 b = 2 (or vice versa)
√
8. (a) 7 2, a = 7
√
(b) 3 2 − 2, b = 3 c = −2
√
9. − 21 + 32 3, p = − 12 , q = 32
√
10. 2 3, k = 2 x = 3
√
11. (a) 16 − 4 5
√
(b) 4 − 5, a = 4, b = −1
12. (a) 63
√
(b) 11 − 6 5
13. 3
√
14. 13 − 7 3, a = 13 b = −7
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Surds Questions
15. 4
√
16. (a) 6 3, a = 6
√
(b) 7 − 4 3, b = 7 c = −4
17. (a) 13
√
(b) 8 − 2 3, a = 8 b = −2
√
18. (a) 3 5, a = 3
√
(b) 7 + 3 5, b = 7 c = 3
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