Algebra Honors (Period 6 & 7)

Fractional Exponents

In chapter 4 we reviewed the law of exponents:
a^m ⋅aⁿ = a^m+n
Thus you know
2⁴⋅2⁵= 2⁹
What do you notice? What would be the value of n in the equation
2ⁿ⋅2ⁿ = 2
Using what we know from above,
2ⁿ⋅2ⁿ = 2ⁿ⁺ⁿ = 2²ⁿ

The bases are equal ( and NOT -1, 0 or 1). Therefore the exponents must be equal.
That says
2n = 1
n = 1/2

and you have
2^1/2⋅2^1/2=2
Because √2⋅√2 = 2 and (-√2)(-√2) = 2 we note that 2^1/2 as either the positive or negative square root of 2
Selecting the positive or principal square root we define,
2^1/2 = √2

Radicals are not restricted to square roots. The symbol ∛ represents the third ( or cube) root, ∜ represents the fourth root and so on...
As you have learned the root index is omitted when n = 2

Just as the inverse of squaring a number is finding the square root, the inverse of cubing a number is finding the cube root. Since 2³ = 8
∛8 ( read the cube root of 8) is 2.
Likewise (-2)³ = -8
∛(-8) = -2

BE CAREFUL---> While ∛-8 is a real number √-8 is not
In general, you CAN find ODD roots of negative numbers but not EVEN Roots!!

Solve
4ⁿ⋅4ⁿ⋅4ⁿ= 4
4³ⁿ = 4
Since the bases are EQUAL ( that's the KEY), the exponents are also!!
so 3n = 4
n = 3/4


You know that ∛7 = 7 ^1/3 So How would you write (∛7) ² in exponential form?
(∛7) ² = (7^1/3)² = 7^(1/3)2 = 7^2/3

Simplify:

16^3/4
First write as
∜16³
Now change 16 into 2⁴ Why?
You end up with ∜(2⁴)³
Looking at just ∜2⁴ you realize you have 2
and so you are left with
2³ = 8