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Exponents

1) The document reviews simplifying expressions using rational exponents by expressing radicals as fractional powers. Radicals can be written as rational exponents where the index of the radical becomes the denominator and the exponent of the radicand becomes the numerator. 2) Examples are provided of writing radicals using rational exponents and evaluating expressions with rational exponents. Rational exponents follow the same rules as standard exponents. 3) Simplifying expressions with rational exponents involves bringing them to a form without negative exponents, fractional exponents in the denominator, or complex fractions, and having the least possible index for any remaining radicals.

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Jeff Aragon
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191 views22 pages

Exponents

1) The document reviews simplifying expressions using rational exponents by expressing radicals as fractional powers. Radicals can be written as rational exponents where the index of the radical becomes the denominator and the exponent of the radicand becomes the numerator. 2) Examples are provided of writing radicals using rational exponents and evaluating expressions with rational exponents. Rational exponents follow the same rules as standard exponents. 3) Simplifying expressions with rational exponents involves bringing them to a form without negative exponents, fractional exponents in the denominator, or complex fractions, and having the least possible index for any remaining radicals.

Uploaded by

Jeff Aragon
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Review of Exponential Rules

  

                
             
            
               
                
             
Simplifying Expressions with Rational Exponents

Radicals can also be expressed as a rational (or fractional) 
power of an expression.   It will sometimes be easier to 
use this new method of expressing a radical to simplify a 
radical expression.   
1
b = b
n n

When you see a radical 
expression, 
you can convert it to a   
                                       

                    
fractional power.
Example 1 Write each expression in Radical Form

1
6
1) x 6
x

2
3 2
2) m 3
m
Example 2 Write each radical using Rational Exponents

1
5
1) b b 5

1 5 7
5 7
2) 3
6x y 6 x y
3 3 3
Example 3 Evaluate Each Expression

− 12 1
1) 49
7
Rational Exponents
For any nonzero Real number a and 
any integers m and n, with n > 1

m
a = ( a) = a
n n m n m
Notice:   The index of the radical becomes the 
denominator of the rational power, and the exponent of the 
radicand (expression inside the radical) becomes the 
numerator.
Look at these examples:
(1) (2)  (3) 
                                                                   

power
root
x power
=x ro ot
Remember the Rules of Exponents?
They are still valid for rational exponents!!!
Rule Example

                                                                         

                
                                 

                 
                                     
Example 4 Evaluate 
2
(−125) 3

( − 125 )
3 2

25
Example 5 Evaluate 
− 32
 36 
 
 49 
343
216
Simplify

(3a )(− 7a )
Example 6

3 1
2 5

17
− 21a 10
Check out how these problems are done 
using the rules of exponents:

Evaluate:

                        
                                                      

Evaluate:
 
                                                    
Simplify each expression completely

=
Expression with Rational Exponents
An expression with Rational Exponents is simplified when:

1.  It has no negative exponents

2.  It has no Fractional Exponents in the denominator

3.   It is not a Complex Fraction

4.  The index of any remaining radical is the least 
number possible.
Simplifying radicals is often  Simplify:  

easier using rational exponents. 3     
Look at this "rational" example,
3
solved two ways.     ==>
 
3
Solved by Rationalizing the Solved by Using
Denominator Rational Exponents

                                                                           
Example 7 Simplify

(8x y ) 3
4 2
− 13

3 1
1
x 4 y 3
1 2 =
2x 4 y 3 2 xy
Example 8 Simplify

−7
4
n
3
n 7

n
Example 9 Simplify
2 17
n n 12 5
=n
3

1
= 12
n 4
n
Example 8 Simplify
Multiply 
Change to Same Base Add Exponents
Exponents 

Subtract 
Exponents
4
2 5

=
4
Example 9 Simplify

2 a −3 − a +1 a −2
x ⋅x x
2 a −4
=
(x ) x 2a −8

=x (a – 2) – (2a – 8)
=x -a + 6
Example 10 Simplify

1
y +1
2

1
y −1
2

1
y + 2y 2 +1
y −1

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