A surd is a square root that can't simplify to a whole number — like √2 or √7. They're irrational.
Simplify
Pull perfect squares out: √50 = √(25·2) = 5√2.
Rationalise the denominator
Multiply top and bottom by the surd: 1/√2 = √2/2.
A surd is a square root that can't simplify to a whole number — like √2 or √7. They're irrational.
Pull perfect squares out: √50 = √(25·2) = 5√2.
Multiply top and bottom by the surd: 1/√2 = √2/2.