Rationalize: meaning, definitions and examples
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rationalize
[ ˈraʃ(ə)nəˌlaɪz ]
mathematics
To express a number, quantity, or expression in a form that is easier to work with or understand, especially by simplifying or eliminating unnecessary elements.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- Can you rationalize the denominator of this fraction?
- We need to rationalize the equation before solving it.
Translations
Translations of the word "rationalize" in other languages:
🇵🇹 racionalizar
🇮🇳 तर्कसंगत बनाना
🇩🇪 rationalisieren
🇮🇩 merasionalkan
🇺🇦 раціоналізувати
🇵🇱 racjonalizować
🇯🇵 合理化する (ごうりかする)
🇫🇷 rationaliser
🇪🇸 racionalizar
🇹🇷 rasyonalize etmek
🇰🇷 합리화하다 (hamnihwahada)
🇸🇦 عقلن
🇨🇿 racionalizovat
🇸🇰 racionalizovať
🇨🇳 合理化 (hélǐhuà)
🇸🇮 racionalizirati
🇮🇸 rökstyðja
🇰🇿 рационализациялау
🇬🇪 რაციონალიზაცია
🇦🇿 rasionalizasiya etmək
🇲🇽 racionalizar
Word origin
The word 'rationalize' originated in the mid-17th century from the Latin word 'rationalis', meaning 'endowed with reason'. It was initially used in a philosophical context to describe the process of explaining or justifying something based on reason. Over time, the term was adopted in mathematics to refer to the process of simplifying or making sense of an expression or equation. Today, 'rationalize' is commonly used in both mathematical and general contexts to describe the act of making something more logical or understandable.
See also: irrational, rationalist, rationalization.