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6-6 Study Guide and Intervention

Rational Exponents
Rational Exponents and Radicals

1 1
n
Definition of
b n For any real number b and any positive integer n,
b = √ b, except when b < 0 and n is even.
n

m m n m m
n
Definition of
bn For any nonzero real number b, and any integers m and n, with n > 1,
b n = √ b = (√ b) ,
except when b < 0 and n is even.

1
Example 1: Write 28 2 in radical form. −8 13
Example 2: Evaluate ( −125 )
.
Notice that 28 > 0.
Notice that –8 < 0, –125 < 0, and 3 is odd.
1
28 = √ 28
2
−8 1
√3 −8
= √ 22 ⋅ 7
( −125 ) 3
=
√3 −125
= √ 22 ⋅ √ 7
−2
=
−5
= 2√ 7
2
=
5

Exercises
Write each expression in radical form, or write each radical in exponential form.
1 1 3
1. 11 7 2. 15 3 3. 300 2

3 4
4. √ 47 5. √ 3 a5 b2 6. √ 162 p5

Evaluate each expression.

2 1 1
7. −27 3 8. 216 3 9. (0.0004) 2

Chapter 6 38 Glencoe Algebra 2

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6-6 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Rational Exponents
Simplify Expressions All the properties of powers from Lesson 6-1 apply to rational exponents. When you simplify
expressions with rational exponents, leave the exponent in rational form, and write the expression with all positive
exponents. Any exponents in the denominator must be positive integers.
When you simplify radical expressions, you may use rational exponents to simplify, but your answer should be in radical
form. Use the smallest index possible.

2 3
Example 1: Simplify y 3 ⋅ y 8 .
Example 2: Simplify √4 144 x 6.
2 3 2 3 25
+
y ⋅ y 8 = y 3 8 = y 24
3 1
√4 144 x 6 = ( 144 x 6 ) 4
1
= ( 24 ⋅3 2 ⋅ x 6 ) 4

1 1 1
= ( 2 4 ) 4 ⋅ ( 32 ) 4 ⋅ ( x 6 ) 4

1 3 1
= 2 ⋅ 3 2 ⋅ x 2 = 2x ⋅ ( 3 x ) 2 = 2x√ 3 x

Exercises
Simplify each expression.
4 6 3 4 7
2
1. x 5 ⋅ x 5 2. (y ) 3
4 3. p 5 ⋅ p 10

2 3 4 4
6 1
4. (m ) 5
5 5. x 8 ⋅ x 3 6. (s ) 6
3

1
p x2 6
7. 1 8. 1
9. √ 128
3
p x 3

4 5
10. √ 49 11. √ 288 12. √ 32 ⋅ 3 √ 16

3
3 6 a √ b4
13. √ 25 ⋅ √ 125 14. √ 16 15.
√ a b3
Chapter 6 39 Glencoe Algebra 2
NAME ______________________________________________ DATE______________________________ PERIOD ______________

Chapter 6 39 Glencoe Algebra 2