Practice problem

Equations with Powers, Roots, and Radicals

It turns out 2+3=a+bc\sqrt{2 + \sqrt{3}} = \frac{a + \sqrt{b}}{\sqrt{c}}, where a,b,ca,b,c are positive integers with no common factor, and b,cb,c are "square-free" (meaning they are not divisible by any of the squares 22,32,42,…2^2,3^2,4^2,\dots greater than 11). What is a+b+ca+b+c?

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(Hint: Square both sides and simplify.)

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Source: Math Prize for Girls 2011

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