2.4.4 Journal_ Rationalizing Denominators Santa Clara University MATH MECH202

2.4.4 Journal: Rationalizing Denominators


Scenario:​ Rationalizing the Denominator

Instructions:

View the video found on page 1 of this journal activity.
Using the information provided in the video, answer the questions below.
Show your work for all calculations.

The Conjecture: ​Summarize the conjecture each person has made. (​2 points:​ 1 point for each row of
the chart)

Person Conjecture


Student simplify the radical where it is



Teacher rationalizing the denominator makes it easier to use in
other problems


Analyze the Conjecture:

1. Do you agree with the student or the teacher? Does rationalizing the denominator just make it
easier for the teacher to grade, or will the rationalized form be easier to use? (​1 point​)

I agree with the student. We are in the age of calculations and tiny computers (phones). We no
longer need to work things out on paper.



Analyze the Problem:

The teacher said rationalizing the denominator made certain problems easier. Let’s analyze the most
basic problem — the division itself.




2. as a decimal is approximately 1.4142. Using this decimal, find the first four decimal places of the
answer to the long division problem. (Show your work.) (​2 points​)