In this discussion, you will simplify and compare equivalent expressions written both in

radical form and with rational (fractional) exponents. Read the following instructions to
complete this discussion.
1
1. 8 3
2 2
2. 3 3 and 9 3

Simplify each expression using the rules of exponents and examine the steps you are
taking
Incorporate the following vocabulary using them in your own word describing your work
Principal root
Product rule
quotient rule
reciprocal
nth root
Ans: - We should know that when we say that “nth root of a number (√n x )”, it means that

( )
1
the number is raised to the power of reciprocal of n x n . Here “n” could be any
number. For example:
1
√2 x=x 2
1
√ x=x 3
3

1
√ x=x 4
4

And in general,
1
√n x=x n
Two or more radical expressions are called equivalent expressions if their radical parts
are same no matter what the non-radical part is. For example, 3 √ 2 ,−5 √ 2 and 4 √3 7 , √3 7
are examples of equivalent radical expressions respectively because their radical parts
1 1
are equal. Also 5 3 and 2 3 is an example of equivalent expression with rational
exponents.
Also, we know by definition of nth root and principal root:

√n x n=|x|if n is even
 √n x n=x if nis odd
To understand the above, here’s the example.

√ (−4 ) =|−4|=4
2

3
√ (−4 ) =−43

Now we simplify the first given expression.

1
3
8
As we can write 8 in terms of power of 2, so
1
¿ (2 )
3 3

y
As we know that by the rule of exponent, ( a x ) =a x∗ y, we get
3∗1
3
¿2
3
3
¿2
1
¿2
¿2
1
Hence 8 3 =2 where 2 is the principal root.

Now we simplify the 2nd and 3rd given expressions.

2
33
2∗1
3
¿3
y
By the rule of exponent, a x∗ y =( a x ) , we get
1
¿ (3 )
2 3

1
3
¿ (9 )
1
¿ 93
Or

¿√9
3
Hence
Now for the 3rd one,
2
93
2∗1
3
¿9
y
By the rule of exponent, a x∗ y =( a x ) , we get
1
¿ (9 )
2 3

1
3
¿ ( 81 )
Now we can write 81 as the product of 27 and 3, we get
1
3
¿ ( 27 ×3 )

Now as we know by product rule, ( x × y )a=x a × y a . So, we can write

1 1
3 3
¿ 27 ×3
Now we can write 27 in terms of power of 3, we get
1 1
¿ ( 3 ) ×3
3 3 3

y
By the rule of exponent, ( a x ) =a x∗ y, we get
3∗1 1
3 3
¿3 ×3
3 1
3 3
¿ 3 ×3
1
1 3
¿ 3 ×3
1
3
¿ 3 ×3

¿ 3 ×√3
3

Or

¿3 √3
3