Essential Calculus-based Physics Study Guide Workbook

Example: Simplify the expression 𝑥𝑥 4 𝑥𝑥.

Apply the rule 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 = 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚+𝑛𝑛 with 𝑚𝑚 = 4 and 𝑛𝑛 = 1 (since 𝑥𝑥1 = 𝑥𝑥).
𝑥𝑥 4 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 4 𝑥𝑥1 = 𝑥𝑥 4+1 = 𝑥𝑥 5

10−10 1024
Example: Evaluate the expression (106 )2
without using a calculator.
𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚
Apply the rule 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛 = 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚+𝑛𝑛 , the rule = 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚−𝑛𝑛 , and the rule (𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚 )𝑛𝑛 = 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚𝑛𝑛 .
𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛
10−10 1024 10−10+24 1014
= = 12 = 1014−12 = 102 = 10 × 10 = 100
(106 )2 106×2 10

𝑥𝑥
Example: Simplify the expression .
√𝑥𝑥
There is more than one way to solve this problem. One way is to recognize that 𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥1 and
𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚
√𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥1/2 and apply the rule 𝑥𝑥 𝑛𝑛
= 𝑥𝑥 𝑚𝑚−𝑛𝑛 .
𝑥𝑥1 𝑥𝑥
1/2
= 𝑥𝑥1−1/2 = 𝑥𝑥1/2 = √𝑥𝑥
=
√ 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥
A simpler way is to note that √𝑥𝑥√𝑥𝑥 = 𝑥𝑥 and therefore 𝑥𝑥 ÷ √𝑥𝑥 = √𝑥𝑥. (Note that is the
√𝑥𝑥
same as 𝑥𝑥 ÷ √𝑥𝑥).

Example: Express (3𝑥𝑥)−1/2 in standard form.

1
Apply the rule (𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥)−1/2 = .
√𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥
1
(3𝑥𝑥)−1/2 =
√3𝑥𝑥
To put this in standard form, we must rationalize the denominator. Multiply the numerator
and denominator both by √3𝑥𝑥 and note that √3𝑥𝑥√3𝑥𝑥 = 3𝑥𝑥.
1 √3𝑥𝑥 √3𝑥𝑥
(3𝑥𝑥)−1/2 = =
√3𝑥𝑥 √3𝑥𝑥 3𝑥𝑥

1 1
Example: Add the following fractions: + 𝑥𝑥.
√𝑥𝑥
To add fractions, first find a common denominator.
1 1 1 √𝑥𝑥 1 √𝑥𝑥 1 √𝑥𝑥 + 1
+ = + = + =
√𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥

Example: What is the reciprocal of √𝑥𝑥?

Apply the rule 𝑥𝑥1/2 = √𝑥𝑥. Negate the power to find the reciprocal. The reciprocal of √𝑥𝑥 is
1 1 1 √𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥
𝑥𝑥 −1/2, which equals . Rationalize the denominator: 𝑥𝑥 −1/2 = = = . The
√𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 √𝑥𝑥 𝑥𝑥
√𝑥𝑥
reciprocal of √𝑥𝑥 is .
𝑥𝑥