How to show $\sqrt{4+2\sqrt{3}}-\sqrt{3} = 1$

Hint: $$4+2\sqrt{3} = 1+2\sqrt{3}+\sqrt{3}^2 = (1+\sqrt{3})^2.$$


Here’s an approach that doesn’t require you to spot a not-terribly-obvious factorization. Multiplying by the conjugate to get rid of some of the square roots is a fairly natural thing to do, and

$$\left(\sqrt{4+2\sqrt3}-\sqrt3\right)\left(\sqrt{4+2\sqrt3}+\sqrt3\right)=1+2\sqrt3\;.$$

Thus, the desired result holds if and only if

$$1+2\sqrt3=\sqrt{4+2\sqrt3}+\sqrt3\;,$$

or

$$1+\sqrt3=\sqrt{4+2\sqrt3}\;,$$

which is easily verified.