Rational Exponents

Objective:
Simplifies expressions with rational
exponents.
Review: Radicals
Finding a root of a number is the inverse
operation of
raising a number to a power.
This symbol is the radical or the radical sign

positive or principal root of a number

 negative root of a number

index radical sign

n
a radicand

The expression under the radical sign is the radicand.

The index defines the root to be taken.
Definition

If x is a nonnegative real number, then the expression √x

is called the positive square root of x and is the nonnegative number such that

(√x)2 = x

In Words: √x is the nonnegative number we square to get x.

 Square Roots

A square root of any positive number has two roots – one is

positive and the other is negative.

If a is a positive number, then

a is the positive square root of a and
 a is the negative square root of a.
Examples:

100  10  36  6 8
x  x 4

25 5
 0.81  0.9 9  non-real #
49 7
Definition

If x is a real number, and n is a positive integer, then

Positive square root of x, √x, is such that (√x)2 = x, x ≥ 0

cube root of x, 3
√x, is such that (3√x)3 = x

Positive fourth root of x, 4√x, is such that (4√x)4 = x

The nth root of x, n√x, is such that (n√x)n = x, x ≥ 0 if x is even

 Cube
Rdicals
Roots 3
a
A cube root of any positive number is positive.

A cube root of any negative number is negative.

Examples:

3
27  3 3
8  2 125 5
3 
64 4
4
3
x3  x 3
x12  x
 nth Roots
An nth root of any number a is a number whose nth power is a.

Examples:
34  81 4
81  3
4
2  16 4
16  2

 2 
5
 32 5
32  2
 nth Roots
An nth root of any number a is a number whose nth power is a.

Examples:
5
1  1

4
16  Non-real number

6
1  Non-real number

3
27  3
Definition
If x is a real number, and n is a positive integer
greater than 1, then

x1/n = n√x (x ≥ 0 when n is even)

In words: The quantity x1/n is the nth root of x.

The Rational Exponent Theorem

If a is a nonnegative real number, m is an integer, and n is a
positive integer, then

am/n = (a1/n)m = (am)1/n

In words: The quantity x1/n is the nth root of x.

 Rational Exponents
Definition of a :
m
n n
a m
or  a
n
m

The value of the numerator represents the power of the radicand.

The value of the denominator represents the index or root of the expression.

Examples:
1
25 2 25 5
3
4 2 4 3
64 8
1
27 3 3
27 3

2 x  1 7 2 7
2 x  1 2
3 Ways to Write Rational Exponents
4

 27 
4
3 4 3
27  27 
3

 36 6  216

3
3
1. 36 2 
4
  27  3  81
4 4
3
2. 27 3
3
  81  3  27
3 3
4
3. 81 4
Exponents in Decimal Form

3
0.6
x Convert the
decimal to a
x 5

fraction

1
  x
5
3 
 x
5
3
 Properties of Exponents
If a and b are real numbers and r and s are rational
numbers, and a and b are nonnegative whenever r and s
indicate even roots, then

1. ar ● as = ar + s 2. (ar)s = ar + s

3. (ab)r = ar br 4. a-r = 1 (a ≠ 0)
ar

5. a r = ar (b ≠ 0) 6. ar = ar-s (a ≠ 0)
b br as
 Rational Exponents

2 2
3 2
 1  3 1 3
1 3
1 1
  2
 27  27 3 3
27 2 3
729 9

or

 1 
2
3 1
2
3
13
2
1 2
1
 
 27  27
2
3
 27 
3
2
3 2
9
 Negative Rational Exponents
 mn 1 1 1
Definition of a : or or
a
m
n n
a m
 a
n
m

Examples:

 12
1 1 1
25 1
25 2 25 5

2
1 1 1
x or
 x
3 2 2
3 2 3
x 3
x
 Rational Exponents
Use the properties of exponents to simplify each expression.

4 5 4 5 9 3
1.) x x 3 3
x 3 3
x 3 x
3
x 5
3 1 6 1 5 1
2.) 1 x 5 10
x 10 10
x 10
x 2
x 10

2 1
3.) 4 2
3x 3x 2
81x 4

3 2 1 2 1 8 9 3
4.) 12
x x x 12
x 3
x 12 12
x 12
x 4
 Simplifying Rational Exponents

 No negative exponents
 No fractional exponents in the
denominator
 No complex fractions (fraction
within a fraction)
 The index of any remaining
radical is the least possible
number
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