Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Square Roots
A square root of a number 'x' is a value 'y' such that y² = x. In this context, both √7 and √3 are square roots of 7 and 3, respectively. Understanding how to compute square roots is essential for evaluating expressions involving them, especially when simplifying fractions.
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Imaginary Roots with the Square Root Property
Rationalizing the Denominator
Rationalizing the denominator involves eliminating any square roots or irrational numbers from the denominator of a fraction. This is often done by multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the square root present in the denominator, which can simplify the expression and make it easier to evaluate.
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Rationalizing Denominators
Real Numbers
Real numbers include all the numbers on the number line, encompassing rational and irrational numbers. When evaluating expressions, it's important to determine if the result is a real number, especially when dealing with square roots of negative numbers, which yield complex numbers instead.
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Introduction to Complex Numbers