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how do you change huge numbers into surd form

 Aug 9, 2014

Best Answer 

 #1
avatar+118667 
+5

Let's consider square root of 2

$${\sqrt{{\mathtt{2}}}} = {\mathtt{1.414\: \!213\: \!562\: \!373\: \!095}}$$

so how do I change 1.4142135623730951 back to square root 2.  I think that is your question.

WELL that number is not square root 2 it is an approximation of it. I would need all the digits to be able to go backwards! 

Mmm.  This creates a problem.  You see square root 2 is an irrational number which means it can not be expressed exactly as a fraction (p/q) This means it cannot be expressed as a terminating or recurring decimal either. So we cannot know all the digits.

Hence it would be impossible for an approximation to be expressed as a surd.  There would always be some number (a rational one) that would be exact.

Does that make sense?

 Aug 9, 2014
 #1
avatar+118667 
+5
Best Answer

Let's consider square root of 2

$${\sqrt{{\mathtt{2}}}} = {\mathtt{1.414\: \!213\: \!562\: \!373\: \!095}}$$

so how do I change 1.4142135623730951 back to square root 2.  I think that is your question.

WELL that number is not square root 2 it is an approximation of it. I would need all the digits to be able to go backwards! 

Mmm.  This creates a problem.  You see square root 2 is an irrational number which means it can not be expressed exactly as a fraction (p/q) This means it cannot be expressed as a terminating or recurring decimal either. So we cannot know all the digits.

Hence it would be impossible for an approximation to be expressed as a surd.  There would always be some number (a rational one) that would be exact.

Does that make sense?

Melody Aug 9, 2014

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