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Mat1033 9 2
Mat1033 9 2
2 - 1
Chapter 9
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Sec 9.2 - 2
Rational Exponents
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved Sec 9.2 - 3
9.2 Rational Exponents
Objectives
a1/n
n
If a is a real number, then
n
a1/n = a .
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 5
9.2 Rational Exponents
3
(a) 271/3 = 27 = 3
(b) 641/2 = 64 = 8
4
(c) –6251/4 = – 625 = –5
4
(d) (–625)1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 6
9.2 Rational Exponents
Caution on Roots
CAUTION
Notice the difference between parts (c) and (d) in Example 1. The radical
in part (c) is the negative fourth root of a positive number, while the radical
in part (d) is the principal fourth root of a negative number, which is
not a real number.
EXAMPLE 1
4
(c) –6251/4 = – 625 = –5
4
(d) (–625)1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 7
9.2 Rational Exponents
5
(e) (–243)1/5 = –243 = –3
4 1/2 4 2
(f) = =
25 25 5
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 8
9.2 Rational Exponents
am/n
am/n = ( a1/n ) m,
provided that a1/n is a real number. If a1/n is not a real number, then am/n
is not a real number.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 9
9.2 Rational Exponents
(e) (–16)3/2 is not a real number, since (–16)1/2 is not a real number.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 10
9.2 Rational Exponents
EXAMPLE 3 Evaluating Exponentials with Negative
Rational Exponents
Evaluate each exponential.
(a) 32–4/5
1
32–4/5 = 4/5
.
32
4
5
Since 324/5 = 32 = 24 = 16,
1 1
= 32–4/5 = = .
324/5 16
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 11
9.2 Rational Exponents
EXAMPLE 3 Evaluating Exponentials with Negative
Rational Exponents
Evaluate each exponential.
8 –4/3 1 1 1 1 81
(b) = = = = =
27 8 4/3 8 4 2 4 16 16
3 81
27 27 3
b –m a m
We could also use the rule = here, as follows.
a b
8 –4/3 27 4/3 27 4 3 4 81
= = 3 = =
27 8 8 2 16
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 12
9.2 Rational Exponents
Caution on Roots
CAUTION
When using the rule in Example 3 (b), we take the reciprocal only of the
base, not the exponent. Also, be careful to distinguish between exponential
expressions like –321/5, 32–1/5, and –32–1/5.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 13
9.2 Rational Exponents
am/n
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 14
9.2 Rational Exponents
n
am = ( n a ) .
m
am/n =
In words, raise a to the mth power and then take the nth root, or take the
nth root of a and then raise to the mth power.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 15
9.2 Rational Exponents
EXAMPLE 4 Converting between Rational Exponents
and Radicals
Write each exponential as a radical. Assume that all variables represent
positive real numbers. Use the definition that takes the root first.
(c) 4n2/3 = 4( 3 n )2
1 1
(e) g–4/5 = =
g4/5 ( 5 g )4
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 16
9.2 Rational Exponents
EXAMPLE 4 Converting between Rational Exponents
and Radicals
In (f) – (h), write each radical as an exponential. Simplify. Assume that all
variables represent positive real numbers.
(f) 33 = 331/2
(g) 3 76 = 76/3 = 72 = 49
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 17
9.2 Rational Exponents
Let r and s be rational numbers. For all real numbers a and b for which the
indicated expressions exist:
1 ar a –r br
ar · as = ar + s a–r = r s = ar – s = r
a a b a
a r ar 1 r
( ar ) s = ar s ( ab ) r = ar br = r a–r =
b b a .
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 18
9.2 Rational Exponents
Write with only positive exponents. Assume that all variables represent
positive real numbers.
32/3 1
(b) = 32/3 – 5/6 = 3–1/6 = Quotient rule
35/6 31/6
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 19
9.2 Rational Exponents
Write with only positive exponents. Assume that all variables represent
positive real numbers.
m1/4 n–6 –3/4 (m1/4)–3/4 (n–6)–3/4
(c) =
m–8 n2/3 ( m–8)–3/4 (n2/3)–3/4
= m–99/16 n5
n5 Definition of negative
=
m99/16 exponent
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 20
9.2 Rational Exponents
Write with only positive exponents. Assume that all variables represent
positive real numbers.
= x1/10 – x27/20
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 21
9.2 Rational Exponents
CAUTION
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 22
9.2 Rational Exponents
Rewrite all radicals as exponentials, and then apply the rules for rational
exponents. Leave answers in exponential form. Assume that all variables
represent positive real numbers.
4 3
(a) a3 · a2 = a3/4 · a2/3 Convert to rational exponents.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 23
9.2 Rational Exponents
Rewrite all radicals as exponentials, and then apply the rules for rational
exponents. Leave answers in exponential form. Assume that all variables
represent positive real numbers.
4
c = c1/4 Convert to rational exponents.
(b)
c3 c3/2
1
= Definition of negative exponent
c5/4
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 24
9.2 Rational Exponents
Rewrite all radicals as exponentials, and then apply the rules for rational
exponents. Leave answers in exponential form. Assume that all variables
represent positive real numbers.
5 3 x2 5
(c) = x2/3
= ( x2/3 )1/5
= x2/15
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 25