6rational Exponents Students

Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science
Mathematics Department
RAT I O N A L
EXP O N E N T S
MISS MELINDA G. BELARMINO
Enhanced Mathematics 9
Most Essential Learning Competency
• simplify expressions with rational exponents (M9AL – IIe – 1); and
• write expressions with rational exponents as radicals and vice versa
(M9AL – IIf – 1)
Learning Objectives:
a. define rational numbers;
b.analyze the different rules and laws when there
are rational exponents;
c. understand when an expression with rational
exponents does not exist or not define; and
d.simplify expressions with rational exponents.
Definition of Rational Number
𝑝
A number that can be written in the form of , where 𝑝 and 𝑞
𝑞
are integers and 𝑞 ≠ 0.
Definition of Rational Exponents
Rational exponents are expressions used as
𝑎
exponents of certain quantity in fraction form, .
𝑏
𝑚
For any rational exponent in lowest terms, where 𝑚 and 𝑛 are
𝑛
𝑚
integers and 𝑛 > 0, defined 𝑎 = ( 𝑎) or, equivalently,
𝑛
𝑛 𝑚
𝑚 𝑛
𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎 𝑚
If 𝑛 is even, them it requires that 𝑎 ≥ 0.
❑ If 𝑛 is a positive even integer and 𝑏 is a positive real number,
1
the principal 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of 𝑏, denoted by 𝑏 , is its positive 𝑛𝑡ℎ
𝑛
root.
❑ If 𝑛 is a positive even integer and 𝑏 is a negative real number,
the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of 𝑏 is not defined.
❑ If 𝑛 is a positive odd integer and 𝑏 is any real number, the
1
principal 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of 𝑏 is its 𝑛𝑡ℎ root, 𝑏 .
𝑛
Example:
𝟏
(−𝟑𝟐)𝟓
1
= 5
(−2 )5
5
= −25
= −𝟐
❑ For any positive integer 𝑛, the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of 0 is 0.
1
0𝑛 =0
𝑚
❑ If 𝑏 exists in the set of real numbers, then
𝑛
𝑚 1 𝑚 1
𝑚 𝑛
𝑏𝑛 = 𝑏𝑛 = (𝑏 )
𝑚
❑ If 𝑏 is a negative number and 𝑛 is even, then 𝑏 is not defined.
𝑛
𝟐 𝟏
Example: (−𝟖) ≠ (−𝟖 )
𝟔 𝟑
1
Note: Since (−8) is not defined for an even 𝑛.
𝑛
If 𝑏 is any real number and 𝑚 and 𝑛 are positive even integers, then
1 𝑚
𝑚 𝑛
(𝑏 ) = 𝑏 𝑛
Simplify
1
2 8
[ −16 ]
1
4 2 8
= [ −2 ]
1
8 8
= [ −2 ]
8
= (−2)8
=𝟐
Suppose 𝑚 and 𝑛 are positive integers and 𝑏 is a real number such that
𝑚
𝑏 exists in the set of real numbers. Then
𝑛
−
𝑚 1
𝑏 𝑛 = 𝑚
𝒎
𝑏 𝑛
− Simplify:
Evaluating 𝒃 𝒏 −
2
1
1. 𝑥 =
1. Find the 𝑛𝑡ℎ root of 𝑎
3 2
𝑥3
2.Raise it to the 𝑚 power

2
1
2. 2 =𝑥 3
−
𝑥 3
3.Find the reciprocal −
2
𝑥 3
5
𝑦3
3. 5 = 2
−
𝑦 3 𝑥3
Laws of Rational Exponent
Law 1: Suppose 𝑏 is any real number, 𝑟 and 𝑠 are rational numbers
such that 𝑏 and 𝑏 both exist in the set of real numbers. Then,
𝑟 𝑠
𝑟 𝑠 𝑟+𝑠
𝑏 𝑏 =𝑏
Examples:
Simplify the following:
5 4
1. (−8) (−8)
3 3
5 4 9
+ 3
= (−8)3 3 = (−8)3 = (−8) = −𝟓𝟏𝟐
5 1
−
2. (64) (64)
6 3
5−2 3 1 1
2
= 64 6 = 64 6 = 64 2 = (8 )2 =𝟖
Law 2: Suppose 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers and 𝑟 is rational number
such that 𝑎 and 𝑏 both exist in the set of real numbers. Then,
𝑟 𝑟
𝑟 𝑟 𝑟
(𝑎𝑏) = 𝑎 𝑏
Examples:
2 2 2
1. Show that (−512) = (−64) (8) .
3 3 3
1 1 1
2. Explain why [ −16 −4 ] ≠ (−16) (−4) .
2 2 2
Law 3: Suppose 𝑏 is a real number and 𝑟 and 𝑠 are rational numbers
𝑟 𝑠
𝑟 𝑠 𝑠 𝑟 𝑟𝑠
(𝑏 ) = (𝑏 ) = 𝑏
Examples:
2 3
1. [(32) ]
5 2
3 3
5 3
= (32) = (2 ) = 2 = 𝟖
5 5
2 9
2. [(−8) ]3 4
3 3 𝟗
= −8 = 2 3
(−2 ) = −𝟐
2 𝟐
Since the base is negative and 𝑛 is even, therefore, it not defined.

Law 4: Suppose 𝑎 and 𝑏 are real numbers 𝑏 ≠ 0, and 𝑟 is rational
number such that 𝑎 and 𝑏 both exist in the set of real numbers. Then,
𝑟 𝑟
𝑟 𝑟
𝑎 𝑎
= 𝑟
𝑏 𝑏
Examples:
3
81 −
4
1.
16
1 1
−16 2 (−16)2
2. Explain why ≠ 1 .
−81
(−81)2
Law 5: Suppose 𝑏 is a nonzero real number, 𝑟 and 𝑠 are rational numbers
𝑟 𝑠
𝑟
𝑏 𝑟−𝑠
= 𝑏
𝑏𝑠
Examples:
1 3
(𝑎𝑏)1 (𝑎𝑏2 )4
1. 2 3 , where 𝑎 and 𝑏 are both positive
3 2 −
(𝑎 𝑏)7 (𝑎𝑏 ) 5
4
(−125)3
2. 3
(−125)4
Writing expressions with Rational Exponents as
Radicals and Vice Versa
An expression in the form 𝑛
𝑎 is called radical expression.
1
Another way of writing 𝑎 is by using the radical 𝑎, read as “the
𝑛
𝑛
𝑛 root of 𝑎”. A radical expression has the following parts:

𝑡ℎ
Examples:
1. Rational Exponent to Radical
Examples:
2. Radical to Rational Exponent

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Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science

2.Raise it to the 𝑚 power

Since the base is negative and 𝑛 is even, therefore, it not defined.

𝑛 root of 𝑎”. A radical expression has the following parts:

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