Question

How do you evaluate `\frac { \sqrt { 2} } { 2} ( \frac { 1} { 2} ) - ( \frac { \sqrt { 3} } { 2} ) ( \frac { \sqrt { 2} } { 2} )`?

Answer 1

`(sqrt2-sqrt6)/2~~0.158`

Explanation:

Multiply out the left and right sides:

`[sqrt2/2*1/2]-[sqrt3/2*sqrt2/2]`

`=sqrt2/2-sqrt6/2`

Simplify (Note: we cannot combine `sqrt2` and `sqrt6`

`=(sqrt2-sqrt6)/2~~0.158`