Algebra: Surds

Surds are numbers left in 'square root form' (or 'cube root form' etc). They are therefore irrational numbers. The reason we leave them as surds is because in decimal form they would go on forever and so this is a very clumsy way of writing them. (See here for notes and examples )

Skills needed to answer GCSE questions

Using Surds in calculations

Simplifing Surds

Rationalise Surds (which needs you to remember the difference of 2 squares)

Helpful resources, examples and links

	BBC Bitesize is always good GCSE Maths tutor - technical but some worksheets and videos
Some people fing watching a YouTube video can help, but be aware that they use real Maths teachers
MyMaths Surds1 goes through the topics in a gentle way.
Surds2 - a little harder