Simplification of (2+2√5)/2 ???

[Almonds]

2+2√5
2
Hi, long time reader first time poster, just wondering how i go about simplifying this? Can it be done by hand or do i just use a calculator?

Sorry if ive put this in the wrong section but i didnt know where else to post it, tell me if i need to repost it in another thread.

Thanks to all replies in advance.

 

[Dr.Peterson]

Either factor 2 out of the top, and cancel common factors; or divide each term of the numerator by the denominator.

What do you get, either way?

 

[Oiler]

You can rewrite that expression as [MATH]\frac{2}{2}+\frac{2\sqrt 5}{2}[/MATH] from where it should be easier to see how it simplifies into [MATH]1+\sqrt 5[/MATH] . and as Dr.Peterson mentions, an equivalent approach would be to just factorise out the common factor of 2 in the numerator and cancel:
[MATH]\frac{2(1+\sqrt 5)}{2}1+\sqrt 5[/MATH]

 

[JeffM]

2+2√5
2
Hi, long time reader first time poster, just wondering how i go about simplifying this? Can it be done by hand or do i just use a calculator?

Sorry if ive put this in the wrong section but i didnt know where else to post it, tell me if i need to repost it in another thread.

Thanks to all replies in advance.

Once outside basic arithmetic, it is preferable not to use a calculator to present an answer, but rather to keep your answers exact. There are several reasons, the most important being the need to limit error in numeric estimates. What is fine, however, is to present an exact answer and then to use a calculator to show an approximation. For example

[MATH]1 + \sqrt{5} \approx 3.236[/MATH], where the [MATH]\approx[/MATH] symbol means "is approximately equal to."

It's good to develop good practice early on so it becomes a habit.