Lucy in Australia Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 We are in Australia and have been using Saxon Maths successfully. However, DS15, in doing an Australian online maths programme (which covers the Aussie curriculum) came across surds, which appears to be a British term and not used in Saxon. He was able to work everything out but said he hadn't been taught division of surds in Saxon (he has just finished Algebra 2) eg. 5√20 divided by 6√5. (He has, however, covered, multiplication, addition etc...) Can anyone tell me what the American term for surds is, and in what book they cover division of surds? Thank you for helping this maths-impaired mum :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 If I recall, it means irrational roots. Not all roots are surds, but roots that are irrational are surds. Off to double check that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 http://www.mathopenref.com/surd.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I had never heard of such a thing and thought it was a made-up word. But when I googled it, I found an explanation. http://www.mathsisfun.com/surds.html I have no idea where this is covered in Saxon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) We are in Australia and have been using Saxon Maths successfully. However, DS15, in doing an Australian online maths programme (which covers the Aussie curriculum) came across surds, which appears to be a British term and not used in Saxon. He was able to work everything out but said he hadn't been taught division of surds in Saxon (he has just finished Algebra 2) eg. 5√20 divided by 6√5. (He has, however, covered, multiplication, addition etc...) Can anyone tell me what the American term for surds is, and in what book they cover division of surds? The weird word (which I have never heard in my life) aside: The division problem should fall under the general laws of exponents which should have been taught in pre-algebra, or at the very beginning of algebra 1. 5√20 divided by 6√5 can be simplified by using the fact that 20=4*5, so √20=√(4*5)=2√5 hence 5√20 divided by 6√5 = 5*2√5/(6√5)= 10/6=5/3 I would be surprised if laws of exponents and simplifying square roots have not been covered until algebra 2. According to the TOC (we are not using the book) Saxon Algebra 1 covers laws of exponents in several lessons throughout the book. Edited November 9, 2011 by regentrude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 (edited) Multiplication and division of radicals is covered in Saxon Algebra 1. I've never heard of the term "surds" either. Lessons 36, 63, 66 (simplification of radical expressions), 78, 84, 108, 112, and 116 are the ones which apply. Division of exponents is covered in lesson 111 of Saxon 8/7. Edited November 9, 2011 by Teachin'Mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Surds are what SO, who was educated in the UK during the '80s, calls them. But it should've been taught in Algebra 1. Maybe the odd word threw him off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy in Australia Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 Thanks, everyone. Yes, it was the different terminology that confused us both. I must admit I was wondering how he worked out how to do it if he hadn't covered it before :glare: It's presented a little differently here, so we just have to add it to our list of topics to revise before he hits college next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy in Australia Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 Surds are what SO, who was educated in the UK during the '80s, calls them. My curiosity has overcome my desire to not appear totally ignorant: who is SO? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nan in Mass Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Are you sure this is a British term? I vaguely remember this term from high school and I was educated in the US. So was my teacher. And my textbook was a US textbook. (I couldn't remember what the term meant, but it sounded familiar.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 Here's a good explanation of what is and isn't a surd: http://www.mathsisfun.com/surds.html I've never heard the term before now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 I believe the term 'surd' is less commonly used here; at any rate, I had never seen it used, and certainly not in any modern textbook. However, I know my mother had. Not 100% sure. Here's some interesting commentary on it (scroll down): http://jeff560.tripod.com/s.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted November 9, 2011 Share Posted November 9, 2011 My curiosity has overcome my desire to not appear totally ignorant: who is SO? SO is the guy who's going to be my dh as of this summer. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucy in Australia Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share Posted November 9, 2011 SO is the guy who's going to be my dh as of this summer. Oh, thank goodness - I thought it was the initials of some maths guru I'd never heard of:lol: Although for all I know your SO is a maths guru :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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