Rational Exponents

and Radicals
Algebra
Rational Exponents and
Radicals

m
__
n
 Radical Expression
index

n
radicand
radical sign

“The nth root of a.”

 Transforming Exponents to

n
Radicals

m
a
_
m
n 
Exponential Form  Radical Form
Rational Exponents and
Radicals

4 3
6
3
__
4

 Rational Exponents and
Radicals
1
1. 72 = 7
5
2. 23 = 3
2
5

3
3. 62 = 6
3

1
4. 26 = 6
2
7 7
5. 128 =
8
12
 Rational Exponents and
Radicals
1. 𝑥
3
2. 𝑥
3
3. ( 10)
4 5
4. 2
3 4 1ൗ
5. 𝑎 𝑏 4
 Properties of
Rational Exponents
and Radicals
 Rational
Exponents
 Let a and b real
numbers and let
m and n be
rational numbers
 Rational Exponents
Property 1

1 3 1 3 4
+ 2
1. 52 ⋅ 52 = 52 2 = 52 = 5 = 25
1 1 1 1 1+2 3
+
2.74 ⋅ 72 = 74 2 =7 4 = 74 =
4 3
= 7
 Rational Exponents
Property 2
𝑚 𝑛 𝑚𝑛
𝑎 = 𝑎
5 2 5
1. 32 = 32 ⋅2
= 35 = 243
 Rational Exponents
Property 3

1 1 1
1. 16 ⋅ 9 2 = 162 ⋅ 92 =
16 ⋅ 9 = 4 ⋅ 3 = 12
 Rational Exponents
Property 3

1 1 2 1 2 1 2
2. 62 ⋅ 43 = 62 43 =
1 1 2 2
⋅2 ⋅2 1
(6 )(4 ) =6 ⋅ 43 =6 ⋅ 43
2 3 =
3 2 3 3
6⋅ 4 = 6 ⋅ 16 = 6 ⋅ 8 ⋅ 2 =
3 3
6 ⋅ 2 2 = 12 2
 Rational Exponents
Property 4

1 1 1 1
1.
−
36 2 = 1 = =
36 6
362
1 1 1
2. 45 ⋅ 5 −5 5⋅− 5⋅−
3 = 4 5 3 5 =
−1 −1
1 1 1
4 3 = 4 =
3 12
 Rational Exponents
Property 5

5
42 5 1 5−1 4
−
1. 1 = 4 2
2 = 4 2 = 42 =
42
2
4 = 16
 Rational Exponents
Property 5

5 1
5 1 3−1
2. 1 = 1 = 1−
5 3 = 5 3 =
53 53
2 3 2
53 = 5
 Rational Exponents
Property 6

1 3
273 27 3
1. = =
1 3
643 64 4
 Rational Exponents
Property 6

1 2 1 2 2
⋅2
423 423 423 42 3
2. 1 = 1 = 2 = =
⋅2 6
63 63 63
2 3 2
= 7
73
Radicals
Radicals Property 1
Radicals Property 2
 Radicals with Variables
Rule Example

n is odd

n is even

Absolute Value bars are not needed when all

variables are assumed to be positive
Simplify:
3𝑟 2 𝑠 3 𝑡 5 ⋅ 12𝑟 3 𝑠 2 𝑡