解:$ (2) $∵$a+4\sqrt {3}=(m+n\sqrt {3})^2,$
∴$a+4\sqrt {3}=\mathrm {m^2}+3n^2+2mn\sqrt {3}.$
∴$a=\mathrm {m^2}+3n^2,2mn=4$,于是$mn=2.$
∵$m,n$均为正整数,
∴$m=1,n=2$或$m=2,n=1.$
∴$a=1^2+3×2^2=13$或$a=2^2+3×1^2=7.$
∴$a$的值为$13$或$7.$
$ (3) $原式$=\sqrt {5+2\sqrt {5}+1}=\sqrt {(\sqrt {5})^2+2×\sqrt {5}×1+1^2}$
$ =\sqrt {(\sqrt {5}+1)^2}$
$=\sqrt {5}+1$