Question

What does the root ratio mean in the word "rationalize"?

a) Finding the square root of a rational number
b) Eliminating square roots from denominators
c) Simplifying radical expressions
d) Expressing irrational numbers as fractions

Answer 1

The root ratio in the word 'rationalize' refers to the process of eliminating square roots from denominators.

Step-by-step explanation:

The root ratio in the word 'rationalize' refers to the process of eliminating square roots from denominators. This is the correct answer option (b). When rationalizing a fraction, we multiply the numerator and denominator by the conjugate of the denominator, which eliminates the square root from the denominator and simplifies the expression. For example, if we have the fraction 1/sqrt(2), we can rationalize it by multiplying the numerator and denominator by sqrt(2), resulting in sqrt(2)/2. Therefore, option (b) best represents the meaning of the root ratio in the word 'rationalize.'