Solve frac{7+3sqrt{5}}{3+sqrt{5}}-frac{7-3sqrt{5}}{3-sqrt{5}}

$$\frac { 7 + 3 \sqrt { 5 } } { 3 + \sqrt { 5 } } - \frac { 7 - 3 \sqrt { 5 } } { 3 - \sqrt { 5 } }$$

Evaluate

$$\sqrt{5}\approx 2.236067977$$

Short Solution Steps

Rationalize the denominator of \frac{7+3\sqrt{5}}{3+\sqrt{5}} by multiplying numerator and denominator by 3-\sqrt{5}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}-\frac{7-3\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$

Consider \left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right). Multiplication can be transformed into difference of squares using the rule: \left(a-b\right)\left(a+b\right)=a^{2}-b^{2}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{3^{2}-\left(\sqrt{5}\right)^{2}}-\frac{7-3\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$

Square 3. Square \sqrt{5}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{9-5}-\frac{7-3\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$

Subtract 5 from 9 to get 4.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}-\frac{7-3\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}}$$

Rationalize the denominator of \frac{7-3\sqrt{5}}{3-\sqrt{5}} by multiplying numerator and denominator by 3+\sqrt{5}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}-\frac{\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}$$

Consider \left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right). Multiplication can be transformed into difference of squares using the rule: \left(a-b\right)\left(a+b\right)=a^{2}-b^{2}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}-\frac{\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{3^{2}-\left(\sqrt{5}\right)^{2}}$$

Square 3. Square \sqrt{5}.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}-\frac{\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{9-5}$$

Subtract 5 from 9 to get 4.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}-\frac{\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}$$

Since \frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)}{4} and \frac{\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{4} have the same denominator, subtract them by subtracting their numerators.

$$\frac{\left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)-\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right)}{4}$$

Do the multiplications in \left(7+3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3-\sqrt{5}\right)-\left(7-3\sqrt{5}\right)\left(3+\sqrt{5}\right).

$$\frac{21-7\sqrt{5}+9\sqrt{5}-15-21-7\sqrt{5}+9\sqrt{5}+15}{4}$$

Do the calculations in 21-7\sqrt{5}+9\sqrt{5}-15-21-7\sqrt{5}+9\sqrt{5}+15.

$$\frac{4\sqrt{5}}{4}$$

Cancel out 4 and 4.

$$\sqrt{5}$$