2.
Simplify the following:
1/(sqrt(2) - 1) + 1/(sqrt(2) + 1)
Multiply numerator and denominator of 1/(sqrt(2) - 1) by the conjugate of the denominator.
Multiply numerator and denominator of 1/(sqrt(2) - 1) by sqrt(2) + 1:
(sqrt(2) + 1)/((sqrt(2) - 1) (sqrt(2) + 1)) + 1/(sqrt(2) + 1)
Multiply sqrt(2) - 1 and 1 + sqrt(2) together using FOIL.
(sqrt(2) - 1) (sqrt(2) + 1) = -1 - sqrt(2) + sqrt(2)×1 + sqrt(2) sqrt(2) = -1 - sqrt(2) + sqrt(2) + 2 = 1:
(sqrt(2) + 1)/1 + 1/(sqrt(2) + 1)
Look for one in the denominator of sqrt(2) + 1.
(sqrt(2) + 1)/1 = sqrt(2) + 1:
sqrt(2) + 1 + 1/(sqrt(2) + 1)
Multiply numerator and denominator of 1/(sqrt(2) + 1) by the conjugate of the denominator.
Multiply numerator and denominator of 1/(sqrt(2) + 1) by sqrt(2) - 1:
1 + sqrt(2) + (sqrt(2) - 1)/((sqrt(2) + 1) (sqrt(2) - 1))
Multiply 1 + sqrt(2) and sqrt(2) - 1 together using FOIL.
(sqrt(2) + 1) (sqrt(2) - 1) = -1 + 1 sqrt(2) - sqrt(2) + sqrt(2) sqrt(2) = -1 + sqrt(2) - sqrt(2) + 2 = 1:
1 + sqrt(2) + (sqrt(2) - 1)/1
Look for one in the denominator of sqrt(2) - 1.
(sqrt(2) - 1)/1 = sqrt(2) - 1:
1 + sqrt(2) + sqrt(2) - 1
Evaluate 1 + sqrt(2) - 1 + sqrt(2).
1 + sqrt(2) - 1 + sqrt(2) = 2 sqrt(2):
2 sqrt(2)