w0ng3r
Bunuel
Official Solution:
What is the value of the following expression:
\(\frac{1}{\sqrt{1} + \sqrt{2}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{2} + \sqrt{3}} + \frac{1}{\sqrt{3} + \sqrt{4}} + ... + \frac{1}{\sqrt{120} + \sqrt{121}}\)
A. \(1\)
B. \(9\)
C. \(10\)
D. \(11\)
E. \(12\)
Rationalize by multiplying the denominator and the numerator of each fraction by \(\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}\) (this algebraic manipulation is called rationalization and is performed to eliminate irrational expression in the denominator). As in the denominator we have \(\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{x-1}\) we'll get \((\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{x-1})(\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1})=x-(x-1)=1\).
We'll be left with the following:
\((\sqrt{2}-\sqrt{1})+(\sqrt{3}-\sqrt{2})+(\sqrt{4}-\sqrt{3})+....+(\sqrt{121}-\sqrt{120})=-\sqrt{1}+\sqrt{121}=-1+11=10\)
Answer: C
Why do we multiply by \(\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}\) when rationalizing? Can you explain how this step is done?
Rationalization is an algebraic manipulation performed to eliminate irrational expressions in the denominator and to simplify the expression. For the given problem, we multiply the denominator and the numerator of the fraction \(\frac{1}{\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{x-1}}\) by \(\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}\), resulting in:
\(\frac{\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}}{(\sqrt{x}+\sqrt{x-1})(\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1})}\).
Next, apply the difference of squares formula, \((a-b) = a^2 - b^2\), to the expression in the denominator:
\(\frac{\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}}{x -(x-1)}=\)
\(=\sqrt{x}-\sqrt{x-1}\).