## anonymous one year ago please help me with this question, no answers allowed! :) Is the simplified form of 2square root of 3 − 2square root of 3 rational? Yes No

1. anonymous

NOOOO

2. zepdrix

This is the problem?$\Large\rm 2\sqrt3-2\sqrt3$What numerical value does it equal? Remember how to combine like-terms? :)

3. anonymous

so yes, it is IRRATIONAL, concluding the answer as NO? @zepdrix

4. zepdrix

Think of the sqrt3 as just like uhhh... potato. So your problem is really 2potato minus 2potato. Which ... equals zero, ya? Is zero a rational number?

5. zepdrix

Rational numbers are numbers which we can write as a ratio of integers. Examples: 5 is a rational number because we can write it as $$\large\rm \frac{5}{1}$$. whole number divided by another whole number. 2.5 is a rational number because we can write it as $$\large\rm \frac{5}{2}$$. 0.001 is a rational number because we can write it as $$\large\rm \frac{1}{1000}$$.

6. zepdrix

7. anonymous

wait, but the sqr root of 3 is a decimal, concluding that it is IRRATIONAL... I am just solving it, and not sure where you get the numbers lol

8. zepdrix

You need to simplify BEFORE you determine whether or not it's rational.

9. zepdrix

$\large\rm 2\sqrt3-2\sqrt3=0$When we do the subtraction, we get zero. We have simplified the expression. We no longer care about the fact that the sqrt3's were irrational.

10. zepdrix

Only look at the zero.

11. zepdrix

So... determine whether or not zero is a rational number, and you will have your answer.

Find more explanations on OpenStudy