ABC26GN1491 · Square Roots and Cube Roots

Subject: General Aptitude · Chapter: Square Roots and Cube Roots · Exam: · Marks: · Difficulty:

If $a=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$, then $\sqrt{1+a}+\sqrt{1-a}=$ ? [DMRC-Train Operator (Station Controller) Exam, 2016]
(a)$(2-\sqrt{3})$
(b)$(2+\sqrt{3})$
(c)$\left(\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}\right)$
(d)$\sqrt{3}$
Answer
Answer (as printed): D
Explanation
$a=\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}$ (given) $$\begin{aligned} & \therefore \sqrt{1+a}+\sqrt{1-a} \\ & =\sqrt{1+\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}+\sqrt{1-\frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}} \\ & =\sqrt{\frac{2+\sqrt{3}}{2}}+\sqrt{\frac{2-\sqrt{3}}{2}} \end{aligned}$$ $=\sqrt{\frac{2(2+\sqrt{3})}{4}}+\sqrt{\frac{2(2-\sqrt{3})}{4}}$ $=\sqrt{\frac{4+2 \sqrt{3}}{4}}+\sqrt{\frac{4-2 \sqrt{3}}{4}}$ $=\sqrt{\frac{3+1+2 \times \sqrt{3} \times 1}{2}}+\sqrt{\frac{3+1-2 \times \sqrt{3} \times 1}{2}}$ $$\left\{\begin{array}{l} \sqrt{3}^{2}+(1)^{2}-2 \times \sqrt{3} \times 1=(\sqrt{3}-1)^{2} \\ \because \quad(\sqrt{3})^{2}+(1)^{2}+2 \times \sqrt{3} \times 1=(\sqrt{3}+1)^{2} \\ a^{2}+b^{2}+2 a b=(a+b)^{2} \\ a^{2}+b^{2}-2 a b=(a-b)^{2} \end{array}\right\}$$ $=\frac{\sqrt{(\sqrt{3}+1)^{2}}}{2}+\frac{\sqrt{(\sqrt{3}-1)^{2}}}{2}$ $=\frac{\sqrt{3}+1+\sqrt{3}-1}{2}$ $=\frac{2 \sqrt{3}}{2}=\sqrt{3}$

Explanation as extracted from the printed page; notation may be imperfect.

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