What is a radical conjugate?
1 Answer
May 19, 2016
Assuming that this is a maths question rather than a chemistry question, the radical conjugate of
Explanation:
When simplifying a rational expression such as:
#(1+sqrt(3))/(2+sqrt(3))#
we want to rationalise the denominator
So we find:
#(1+sqrt(3))/(2+sqrt(3))=(1+sqrt(3))/(2+sqrt(3))*(2-sqrt(3))/(2-sqrt(3))=(sqrt(3)-1)/(4-3) = sqrt(3)-1#
This is one use of the difference of squares identity:
#a^2-b^2 = (a-b)(a+b)#
Specifically:
#a^2-b^2c = (a-bsqrt(c))(a+bsqrt(c))#
A complex conjugate is actually a special case of the radical conjugate in which the radical is