How Do We Use Rational

Exponents?
• Do Now: Perform the indicated operation
and simplify
1.

2.

1
 nth Roots
nth Roots
An nth root of number a is a number whose
nth power is a.
n
a  a number whose nth power is a

If the index n is even, then the radicand a must

be nonnegative.
4
16  2, but 4 16 is not a real number
5
32  2
2
 Square Root of x2

x  x
2

3
ge 393
Radicals

4
Rational Exponents

5
Exponent 1/n When n Is Even

6
 When n Is Even
1
100  100  10
2

1
625  625  5
4 4

1
64  64  2
6 6

1
 4 2   4 is not yet defined
7
Exponent 1/n When n Is Odd

8
Exponent 1/n When n Is Odd
1
27  27  3
3 3

1
 27 3   27  3
3

1
 1  1
5 1
  5 
 32  32 2
9
 nth Root of Zero

0 0
n

10
Rational Exponents

11
Evaluating in Either Order

8
2
3   8   2
3
2 2
4
or
2
8 3  8  64  4
3 2 3

12
Negative Rational Exponents

13
 Evaluating a -m/n

2 1 1 1 1
8

   2 
 8
3

8
2
3
3
2
2 4

14
Rules for Rational Exponents

15

7
 Simplifying

y 
1
6 6
 6
y  y
6

 1
 
1
 a b ab  
2 3
 
 
16
 Simplifying
y 
1
6 6
 6
y  y
6

 1
 1
  1 1 1 1


2


 a b ab    a b  a b
3
 
2

3
 
   
1 1
1  1
a 2
b 3

3 2
a b 2 3 17
 Simplifying

y 
1
6 6
 6
y  y
6

 1
 
1 3 2
 a b ab   a b
2 3 2 3
 
 

9 x y 
1
10 12 2
8
z  18
Multiplying Radicals – Different Indices

1 1 1 1 3

4
2  2  2 2  2
4 2 4 2
2  2  8
4 4 3 4

3
2 3 

19
 Multiplying Radicals
Different Indices

1 1 1 1 3

4
2  2  2 2  2
4 2 4 2
2  2  8
4 4 3 4

1 1
3
2  3  2 3 
3 2

20
 Different Indices

1 1 1 1 3

4
2  2  2 2  2
4 2 4 2
2  2  8
4 4 3 4

1 1 2 3
3
2  3  2 3  2 3 
3 2 6 6

21
 Different Indices

1 1 1 1 3

4
2  2  2 2  2
4 2 4 2
2  2  8
4 4 3 4

1 1 2 3
3
2  3  2 3  2 3  2  3 
3 2 6 6 6 2 6 3

22
 Different Indices

1 1 1 1 3

4
2  2  2 2  2
4 2 4 2
2  2 4 8
4 4 3

1 1 2 3
3
2  3  2  3  2  3  2  3  108
3 2 6 6 6 2 6 3 6

23
 Rational Exponents
Eliminate the root, then the power
2
a 2
3

24
Eliminate the Root, Then the Power
2
a 2
3

3
  2
 a   23
3
 
 
a 8
2

a  8
2

a  2 2
CHECK 25
 Negative Exponents

2
r  1

3 1

26
 Negative Exponents
Eliminate the root, then the power
2
r  1

3 1
3
 r  1   13

2
  3
 
r  1  1
2

r  1  
2
1
r  1  1
r2 r0
27
CHECK
 Negative Exponents
Eliminate the root, then the power
2
2t  3 
3  1

28
 No Solution
Eliminate the root, then the power
2
2t  3

3  1
3
 2t  3    13

2
  3
 
2t  3  1
2

2t  3  
2
1

29
 No Solution
Eliminate the root, then the power
2
2t  3

3  1
3
 2t  3    13

2
  3
 
2t  3  1
2

2t  3  
2
1

No real solution
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Strategy for Solving Equations with
Exponents and Radicals

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