Radicals and rational exponents
The rules of exponent operations
Examples:
3
8 x8 y 6
1. Which of the following is equivalent to the expression ?
4x2 y6
x 3 x2
A. x B. C. 3
2x 2 D. 2x 3
y
3 1
2. Determine whether each of the radical expression below is equivalent to x 2 y 3 .
Ⅰ. x3 3 y Ⅱ. xy Ⅲ. x3 y Ⅳ. 6
x9 y 2
Exponential graphs
Identifying features of graphs from functions
Example:
x
2
Graph the functions f ( x) = 1.5 x and f ( x) = .
3
Example:
Graph the functions f ( x ) = 2 x and f ( x) = 2 x + 3 .
Example:
Graph the functions f ( x) = 1.5 x + 2 , f ( x) = 2 1.5 x and f ( x) = 2 1.5 x + 3 .
Exercises:
1.
2.
Which expression is equivalent to x197 , where x 0 ?
197 2
A. x 2
B. x 394 C. x195 D. x197
3.
A. Ⅰ only B. Ⅱ only C. Ⅰ and Ⅱ D. Neither Ⅰ nor Ⅱ
4.
The function f and g are defined by the equations shown, where a and b are integer
constants, a b and b 0 . If y = f ( x ) and y = g ( x ) are graphed in the xy -plane, which of
the following equations displays, as a constant or coefficient, the y -coordinate of the y -intercept
of the graph of the corresponding function?
Ⅰ. f ( x) = a (3.3) x + b Ⅱ. f ( x) = a(3.3) x + b
A. Ⅰ only B. Ⅱ only C. Ⅰ and Ⅱ D. Neither Ⅰ nor Ⅱ
5. The function f is defined by f ( x) = a x + b , where a and b are constants. In the xy -
plane, the graph of y = f ( x ) has an x -intercept at ( 2,0 ) and a y -intercept at ( 0, −323) .
What is the value of b ?
6. Function f is defined by f ( x) = − a x + b , where a and b are constants. In the xy -plane,
75 320
the graph of y = f ( x ) − 12 has a y -intercept at 0, − . The product of a and b is .
7 7
What is the value of a ?
7. The function h is defined by h( x) = a x + b , where a and b are positive constants. The
325
graph of y = h( x ) in the xy -plane passes through the points ( 0,10 ) and −2, . What is
36
the value of ab ?
8.
A. (0,14) B. (0, 2) C. (0, 22) D. (0, −8)
9.
The graph of y = f ( x ) + 2 is shown. Which equation defines function f ?
A. f ( x) = −2 x + 1 B. f ( x) = −2 x + 3 C. f ( x) = −2 x + 4 D. f ( x) = −2 x + 5
10.
f ( x) = 9(4) x
The function f is defined by the given equation. If g ( x) = f ( x + 2) , which of the following
equations defines the function g ?
A. g ( x) = 18(4) x B. g ( x) = 144(4) x C. g ( x) = 18(8) x D. g ( x) = 81(16) x
11.
12.
Radical, rational, and absolute value equations
Both radical and rational equations can have extraneous solutions, algebraic solutions that emerge
as we solve the equations that do not satisfy the original equations. In other words, extraneous
solutions seem like they're solutions, but they aren't.
To solve a radical equation:
1. Isolate the radical expression to one side of the equation.
2. Square both sides the equation.
3. Rearrange and solve the resulting equation.
To check for extraneous solutions to a radical equation:
1. Solve the radical equation as outlined above.
2. Substitute the solutions into the original equation. A solution is extraneous if it
does not satisfy the original equation.
To solve a rational equation:
1. Rewrite the equation until the variable no longer appears in the denominators of
rational expressions.
2. Rearrange and solve the resulting linear or quadratic
equation.
When solving absolute value equations, rewrite the equation as two linear equations, then
solve each linear equation. Both solutions are solutions to the absolute value equation.
