MAT 1033 Pre-Class Assignment Week 11 (Radical Expressions)

In this assignment, we will focus on radical expressions and techniques of simplification that
will enable us to solve equations with radicals.
Consider the expression √4 = 2 𝑜𝑟 √4 = −2? 𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑏𝑜𝑡ℎ?
Whenever we have an expression √𝑎 we always consider the positive root called principal
square root. The reason lies beyond the scope of this class since is related to functions. If you
have an equation not an expression say 𝑥 2 = 25 we consider all possible solutions in this case.
𝑥 = 5 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑥 = −5.

Using the following definitions:

𝑛
If 𝑎 is nonnegative, then √𝑎 = 𝑏, where 𝑏 ≥ 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑏 𝑛 = 𝑎
If 𝑎 is negative and n is even, then there is a no real-number root.
𝑛
If 𝑎 is negative and n is odd, then √𝑎 = 𝑏, where b is negative and 𝑏 𝑛 = 𝑎
𝑚 𝑚 𝑚
𝑛 𝑛
For 𝑎 ≥ 0, √𝑎𝑚 = 𝑎 𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦 ( √𝑎) = 𝑎 𝑛

Translate into exponential form (rational exponents.

1 1
5
a) √16n =165 𝑛5

1
3
b) √9= 93

Evaluate the following:

c) √121=11
1
d) (−100)2 =√−100

1
e) (−8)3 = -2

1 1
What is the difference between (−4)2 and −42 ?
1
−42 𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑎𝑙 − 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑡, 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 ?

Translate into a radical and then find:

2
a) 325 -=4
 2
b) (−8)3 = 4

5
c) −92 = -243

3
d) 814 = 27