Math  /  Algebra

QuestionExpress 240\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{40}} as a fraction with a rational denominator. Give your answer in its simplest form.

Studdy Solution

STEP 1

What is this asking? We need to rewrite a fraction with a square root in the denominator, 240\frac{\sqrt{2}}{\sqrt{40}}, so that the denominator becomes a nice, whole number, and then simplify it as much as possible! Watch out! Don't forget to simplify both the numerator and the denominator after you rationalize the denominator.
Look for common factors!

STEP 2

1. Simplify the denominator.
2. Rationalize the denominator.
3. Simplify the fraction.

STEP 3

Alright, let's **simplify** that 40\sqrt{40} in the denominator!
We can rewrite 40\sqrt{40} as 410\sqrt{4 \cdot 10}.
Since ab=ab\sqrt{a \cdot b} = \sqrt{a} \cdot \sqrt{b}, we can rewrite this as 410\sqrt{4} \cdot \sqrt{10}.
And since 4=2\sqrt{4} = 2, we have 2102\sqrt{10}.
So our fraction becomes 2210\frac{\sqrt{2}}{2\sqrt{10}}.
Much better!

STEP 4

Now, let's **get rid** of that pesky square root in the denominator!
To do this, we'll multiply both the numerator and the denominator by 10\sqrt{10}.
Remember, multiplying by 1010\frac{\sqrt{10}}{\sqrt{10}} is the same as multiplying by **one**, so it doesn't change the *value* of our fraction, just how it looks!

STEP 5

Multiplying the numerator gives us 210=210=20\sqrt{2} \cdot \sqrt{10} = \sqrt{2 \cdot 10} = \sqrt{20}.
Multiplying the denominator gives us 21010=21010=2100=210=202\sqrt{10} \cdot \sqrt{10} = 2\sqrt{10 \cdot 10} = 2\sqrt{100} = 2 \cdot 10 = 20.
So, our fraction is now 2020\frac{\sqrt{20}}{20}.
Looking good!

STEP 6

We're almost there!
Let's **simplify** 20\sqrt{20}.
We can rewrite 20\sqrt{20} as 45\sqrt{4 \cdot 5}, which is the same as 45\sqrt{4} \cdot \sqrt{5}.
Since 4=2\sqrt{4} = 2, we have 252\sqrt{5}.
So our fraction becomes 2520\frac{2\sqrt{5}}{20}.

STEP 7

Now, both the numerator and denominator have a factor of **2**.
We can rewrite the fraction as 25210\frac{2 \cdot \sqrt{5}}{2 \cdot 10}.
Dividing both the numerator and the denominator by 22 gives us 510\frac{\sqrt{5}}{10}!

STEP 8

Our final, simplified answer is 510\frac{\sqrt{5}}{10}!

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