Question

how to write math surds

Answer 1

When we can't simplify a number to remove a square root (or cube root etc) then it is a surd.

Example: √2 (square root of 2) can't be simplified further so it is a surd

Example: √4 (square root of 4) can be simplified (to 2), so it is not a surd!

Have a look at some more examples:

Number

Simplified

As a Decimal

Surd or
not?

√2

√2

1.4142135...(etc)

Surd

√3

√3

1.7320508...(etc)

Surd

√4

2

2

Not a surd

√¼

½

0.5

Not a surd

3√11

3√11

2.2239800...(etc)

Surd

3√27

3

3

Not a surd

5√3

5√3

1.2457309...(etc)

Surd


Is this fynn