rationalize
v.to explain something in a logical way, or to make a situation seem reasonable even if it is not. In math, it means removing a square root or other radical from the bottom of a fraction.
v.to provide a logical explanation for a situation or to justify a belief or action. In a mathematical context, it refers to the process of removing a radical from the denominator of a fraction by multiplying the numerator and denominator by the same radical.
“The company tried to rationalize the high prices by saying they were necessary for quality.”
“To rationalize the denominator of the fraction, you multiply both the top and bottom by the square root of two.”
“The government attempted to rationalize the sudden increase in fuel taxes by citing the need for infrastructure development and environmental protection.”
“Investments in adult literacy programs are often rationalized through a simple argument: Spending money to help adults read results in greater economic contributions from them when they get a new or higher-paying job.”
“I believe that a field that documents how political movements rationalize the misconduct of their own members should be the last to reproduce this pattern.”