Final answer:
To solve − √18 / √2 and express it as a+b √2, we simplify √18 to 3√2, and then divide by √2, which results in 3. Therefore, a=3 and b=0.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked to simplify the expression − √18 / √2 and express it in the form a+b √2, where a and b are integers.
To find the value of a and b, we can simplify the given expression by rationalizing the denominator:
- Firstly, √18 can be simplified to √9*√2, which equals 3√2.
- So, the expression becomes 3√2 / √2.
- Dividing 3√2 by √2, we just get 3.
Therefore, the values of a and b are 3 and 0, respectively, since there is no √2 term left after simplification.