Guided Notes Key

Name: Date:

Rational Exponents and

Radicals
Objective
In this lesson, you will rewrite radical expressions and expressions with rational exponents.

Rewriting Radical Expressions

3
Examine the radical expression √𝑥𝑥 2 . It can be converted to an expression with rational
𝒎𝒎
exponents 𝒏𝒏
by applying the following property: √𝒙𝒙𝒎𝒎 = 𝒙𝒙 𝒏𝒏 .

In this case, m = 2 and n = 3 . Write the exponential expression where the base of the
2
exponent from the radicand, x, is raised to the power of 2 over
3
3. So, √𝑥𝑥 2 = 𝑥𝑥 3 .

9
To work in the reverse direction, start with an exponential expression 𝑦𝑦 2 . Here, m = 9 and

n= 2 . Write the radical expression with the base of the exponential expression, y, raised to
9
the power of 9 under a radical with an index of 2. So, 𝑦𝑦 2 = �𝑦𝑦 9 .

Match each radical expression or exponential expression

with its equivalent expression of the opposite form:
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3 5
�𝑏𝑏5
𝑏𝑏 3

3
5 �𝑏𝑏 3 𝑏𝑏 5
5

2 �𝑏𝑏 5
𝑏𝑏
2 5
𝑏𝑏 5 �𝑏𝑏 2

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 1

 Guided Notes Key

PROPERTIES OF RATIONAL EXPONENTS

1 1 1 1
Product of Powers Property: 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 ∙ 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒏 = 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎+𝒏𝒏 52 ∙ 54 = 52+4
Addition of fractions works the same way as integers. 2 1
= 54+4
Apply this property when the powers are fractions. 3
= 54

Power of a Power Property: (𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 )𝒏𝒏 = 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 1 2 1

�32 � = 32∙2
Multiplication of fractions works the same way as integers.
= 31
Apply this property when the powers are fractions. =3

Power of a Product Property: (𝒂𝒂𝒂𝒂)𝒎𝒎 = 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 𝒃𝒃𝒎𝒎

Raising a product of numbers to a rational exponent works the same as 1

1 2 1
raising a product to an integer power. Apply the rational exponent to (9𝑥𝑥)2 = 9 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2

each number inside the parentheses separately .

Negative Exponent Property: 𝒂𝒂−𝒎𝒎 =

𝟏𝟏
, 𝒂𝒂 ≠ 𝟎𝟎 1 1
𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 27−3 = 1
3
A negative rational exponent works the same way as a negative integer 27
exponent. Write the expression as a fraction, with 1 as the numerator

and the denominator as the positive of the original rational exponent.

𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 2
Quotient of Powers Property: 𝒂𝒂𝒏𝒏
= 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎−𝒏𝒏 , 𝒂𝒂 ≠ 𝟎𝟎 𝑥𝑥 3 2 1
= 𝑥𝑥 3−3

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1
Subtraction of fractions works the same way as integers. 𝑥𝑥 3
1
Apply this property when the exponents are fractions. = 𝑥𝑥 3

𝒂𝒂 𝒎𝒎 𝒂𝒂𝒎𝒎 2 2
Power of a Quotient Property: �𝒃𝒃� = 𝒃𝒃𝒎𝒎 , 𝒃𝒃 ≠ 𝟎𝟎 𝑦𝑦 3 𝑦𝑦 3
� � = 2
8
Raising a quotient of numbers to a fraction works the same as raising a 83

quotient to an integer. We apply the rational exponent to both

the numerator and denominator separately .

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 2

 Guided Notes Key

The process of simplifying a numerical radical expression involves rewriting it so the radicand is
the smallest possible whole number. This process may involve factorizing the radicand or using
rational exponents to rewrite the expression.
Using Factorization Using Rational Exponents
√125 = √5 ∙ 5 ∙ 5 √125 = �52 ∙ 5
= 5 √5 1

= (52 ) 2 √5
= 5√5

3 3 3
�125𝑔𝑔4 ℎ3 = 3�5 ∙ 5 ∙ 5 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ ℎ ∙ ℎ ∙ ℎ �125𝑔𝑔4 ℎ3 = �53 ∙ 𝑔𝑔3 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ ℎ3
1
3
= �5 3 � ∙ (𝑔𝑔3 )3 ∙ (ℎ3 )3 ∙ 3�𝑔𝑔
3 1 1
= 5 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ ℎ ∙ � g

= 5𝑔𝑔ℎ 3�𝑔𝑔 = 5 ∙ 𝑔𝑔 ∙ ℎ ∙ 3�𝑔𝑔

= 5𝑔𝑔ℎ 3�𝑔𝑔

Example: Rewrite the expression �54𝑥𝑥 5 𝑦𝑦 8 with rational exponents and use the properties of
exponents to simplify the expression.

1. This is a square root expression, so rewrite the radicand using perfect square
factors. Then use rational exponents to write the perfect square factors in the

radicand as exponential expressions.

�54𝑥𝑥 5 𝑦𝑦 8 = �32 ∙ 6 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2 ∙ x ∙ 𝑦𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 2

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1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= (32 )2 ∙ (𝑥𝑥 2 )2 ∙ (𝑥𝑥 2 )2 ∙ (𝑦𝑦 2 )2 ∙ (𝑦𝑦 2 )2 ∙ (𝑦𝑦 2 )2 ∙ (𝑦𝑦 2 )2 ∙ � 6 ∙ 𝑥𝑥

2. Use the power of a power property to simplify the exponential expressions.

= 3 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 ∙ 𝑦𝑦 ∙ √6 ∙ 𝑥𝑥

3. Multiply the expressions outside the radical to get the final, simplified version of

the original expression.

2 4
= 3𝑥𝑥 𝑦𝑦 √6𝑥𝑥

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 3

 Guided Notes Key

Performing Operations
Radical expressions can consist of more than one term.

ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION

Simplify expressions by combining like terms. Like terms must have the same variables

raised to the same power , and if the terms include radicals, they must be like terms as well.

When radicals are like terms, they have the same index and radicand . To determine

whether like terms are present, we need to simplify each term and examine the result.

3 3 3
Example: Examine the expression 2√6𝑥𝑥 − √6𝑥𝑥 + 4√6𝑥𝑥 to determine whether it has like terms.

• All three radicals are cube roots of the same expression, 6x , so they are like terms.

• Use the distributive property to rewrite 3 3 3 3

2√6𝑥𝑥 − √6𝑥𝑥 + 4√6𝑥𝑥 = (2 − 1 + 4)√6𝑥𝑥
the given expression.
3
= 5√6𝑥𝑥
• Simplify the expression inside the
parentheses.

Example: Use simplifying methods to rewrite the expression 3√8𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝑥𝑥√50𝑥𝑥.

Rewrite the terms of the

3�8𝑥𝑥 3 + 𝑥𝑥√50𝑥𝑥 = 3�22 ∙ 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥�52 ∙ 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥
expression using rational
1 1 1
exponents. Use the properties of = 3 ∙ (22 )2 ∙ (𝑥𝑥 2 )2 ∙ √2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 ∙ (52 )2 ∙ √2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥
exponents to simplify the terms.
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= 3 ∙ 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 ∙ √2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 + 𝑥𝑥 ∙ 5 ∙ √2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥

Once the terms are simplified, = 6 𝑥𝑥√2𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑥√2𝑥𝑥

both terms are square root
= (6𝑥𝑥 + 5𝑥𝑥)� 2 𝑥𝑥
expressions with the same

radicand, 2x . Add the like = 11 𝑥𝑥√2𝑥𝑥

terms to find the sum.

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 4

 Guided Notes Key

MULTIPLICATION AND DIVISION

Similar to when we perform operations with polynomials, like terms aren’t required for
multiplication or division.

Example: Simplify this product of two radical expressions: 5�2𝑦𝑦

3
∙ 6 3�𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥.

• Any values outside the radicals can be multiplied. For the radicands, use: √𝑥𝑥 ∙ 𝑛𝑛�𝑦𝑦 = 𝑛𝑛�𝑥𝑥 ∙ 𝑦𝑦
𝑛𝑛

• Because the indices of the radicals are the 5 3�2𝑦𝑦 ∙ 6 3�𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 5 ∙ 6 ∙ 3�2𝑦𝑦 ∙ 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
same, write one radicand as the product of the two.
3
= 30�2𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦 2
• Multiply the values outside and inside the radical.
3
Example: Simplify this product of two radical expressions: 4√𝑥𝑥 ∙ 2√𝑥𝑥 2 .

1 2
Rewrite the radicals using rational exponents. 3
4√𝑥𝑥 ∙ 2 �𝑥𝑥 2 = 4𝑥𝑥 2 ∙ 2𝑥𝑥 3

1 2
Multiply the coefficients and the exponential expressions = 4 ∙ 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 3
using the properties of exponents. When multiplying two 1 2
= 8 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 2+3
powers with the same base, add the exponents.
3 4
= 8 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 6+6

7
= 8 ∙ 𝑥𝑥 6

Rewrite the exponential expression in radical form 6

= 8 ∙ �𝑥𝑥 7

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and use the same methods to simplify the expression. 1 6
= 8 ∙ (𝑥𝑥 6 )6 ∙ � x
This method of multiplication also works for products with
= 8 𝑥𝑥 6√𝑥𝑥
the same roots, such as the previous example.

To divide radical expressions, begin by rewriting the division as a fraction .

𝑛𝑛
√𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 𝑥𝑥
Use the rule 𝑛𝑛 = �𝑦𝑦 to simplify the quotient of the radical parts.
√𝑦𝑦

Recall that when dividing powers with the same base, subtract the exponents.

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 5

 Guided Notes Key

3
Example: Divide the radical expressions with different roots: √36𝑐𝑐 3 ÷ √27𝑐𝑐 .

To begin, rewrite the division as a fraction . √36𝑐𝑐 3

�36𝑐𝑐 3 ÷ 3√27𝑐𝑐 = 3
√27𝑐𝑐 .
Simplify the expressions in the numerator and the
�6 ∙ 6 ∙ c ∙ 𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝑐𝑐
denominator of the fraction using factorization . = 3
√3 ∙ 3 ∙ 3 ∙ 𝑐𝑐
6 𝑐𝑐√𝑐𝑐
= 3
3 √𝑐𝑐
Separate the values outside the radicals from
6𝑐𝑐 √𝑐𝑐
= ∙
the radicands . 3 3√𝑐𝑐
1
After simplifying the first fraction, divide the radicals in 𝑐𝑐 2
= 𝑐𝑐 ∙ 1
2 𝑐𝑐 3
the second fraction by rewriting the radicals in
1 1
exponential form with rational exponents. = 2𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝑐𝑐 2−3
3 2
= 2𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝑐𝑐 6−6
Divide the exponential expressions using the properties

of exponents, and rewrite the simplified exponential = 2𝑐𝑐 ∙ 𝑐𝑐 1

6

expression in radical
6
form. = 2𝑐𝑐 √𝑐𝑐

RATIONALIZING DENOMINATORS
If dividing radical expressions results in a radical in the
√𝑦𝑦 𝑦𝑦
=� 2
denominator, the resulting expression isn’t considered completely �2𝑦𝑦2 2𝑦𝑦

simplified. It can be manipulated and rewritten to eliminate the 1 √1 1

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=� = =
2𝑦𝑦 �2𝑦𝑦 �2𝑦𝑦
issue. This is called rationalizing the denominator.

√𝑦𝑦
Example: Divide the radical expressions: as started above.
�2𝑦𝑦 2

→ Multiply the numerator and the denominator by the radical 1 � 2y

�2𝑦𝑦
∙⎛ ⎞=
2
expression in the denominator . This is equivalent to �2𝑦𝑦 �2𝑦𝑦 ��2𝑦𝑦�
⎝ ⎠
multiplying the entire fraction by 1 . Simplify the �2𝑦𝑦
=
numerator and denominator.
2y

Guided Notes: Rational Exponents and Radicals 6