(-√3+1)/(√3+1) how to simplify?

2 Answers
Jul 14, 2018

#sqrt(3) - 2#

Explanation:

Given: #(-sqrt(3) + 1)/(sqrt(3) + 1)#

Multiply by the conjugate of the denominator as 1: #sqrt(3) - 1# to eliminate the radical in the denominator:

#(-sqrt(3) + 1)/(sqrt(3) + 1) * (sqrt(3) - 1)/(sqrt(3) - 1) = (-3 + sqrt(3) + sqrt(3) - 1)/(3 - 1) = (2 sqrt(3) - 4)/2#

#= (cancel(2)(sqrt(3) - 2))/cancel(2) = sqrt(3) - 2#

Jul 14, 2018

#sqrt3-2#

Explanation:

#(-sqrt3+1)/(sqrt3+1)#

=#-(sqrt3-1)/(sqrt3+1)#

=#-(sqrt3-1)^2/((sqrt3)^2-1^2)#

=#-(4-2sqrt3)/(3-1)#

=#-(4-2sqrt3)/2#

=#-(2-sqrt3)#

=#sqrt3-2#