5.

2 Apply Properties of Rational

Exponents
Do properties of exponents work for roots?
What form must they be in?
How do you know when a radical is in simplest
form?
Before you can add or subtract radicals what
must be true?
Properties of Rational Exponents
m n mn 12 14
a a  a 5 5 
 
a m 
a
n mn
8  5 
12 13 2


 ab m
a
m
b
m 2  3 
4 4 1 4

m 1
a  m
,a  0
m
a 7
a a mn
,a  0 13
a
n
7 2
 13

12
m
a a m

  ,b  0
 13 
 4
m
b b 
This is a good example I why I have been complaining
about the book slides. This is how it copies…
Use the properties of rational exponents to simplify the expression.

a. 71/4 71/2 = 7(1/4 + 1/2) = 73/4

b. (61/2 41/3)2 = (61/2)2 (41/3)2 = 6(1/2 2) 4(1/3 2) = 61 42/3 = 6 42/3

c. (45 35)–1/5 = [(4 3)5]–1/5 = (125)–1/5 = 12[5 (–1/5)] = 12 –1 = 1

12
5 51
d. = = 5(1 – 1/3) = 52/3
51/3 51/3
421/3 2 42 1/3 2
e. = = (71/3)2 = 7(1/3 2) = 72/3
61/3 6

Now see what changes I made…

Use the properties of rational exponents
to simplify the expression.
= 7(1/4 + 1/2) = 73/4

b. (61/2 • 41/3)2 = (61/2)2 • (41/3)2 = 6(1/2 • 2) • 4(1/3 • 2) = 61 • 42/3 = 6 • 42/3

c. (45 • 35)–1/5 = [(4 • 3)5]–1/5 = (125)–1/5 = 12[5 • (–1/5)] = 12 –1 = 1

12
5 51
d. = = 5(1 – 1/3) = 52/3
51/3 51/3
2
421/3 2
42 1/3
e. = = (71/3)2 = 7(1/3 • 2) = 72/3
61/3 6
Write the expression in simplest
form

3
54
3
5 
4

You need to rationalize the denominator

—no tents in the basement
 Adding and subtracting like
radicals and root.
 When adding or subtracting like radicals the root
and the number under the radical sign must be
the same before you can add or subtract
coefficients.
 Radical expressions with the same index and
radicand are like radicals.
 You may need to simplify the radical before you
can add or subtract.
 Adding & Subtracting Roots and
Radicals

76    2 6  
15 15

3
16  2 
3
 Simplify the expression involving
variables
3
125y  6

9 u v  2 10 1 2


4
x 8

y
12
6x y
5

z
13
2x
 Write the expression in simplest form
5 9 13
5
5a b c

x
3 7

y
 Add or subtract the expression
involving variables.
5 y 6 y 

2 xy  7 xy
13 13


3 5 x  x 40 x 
3 5 3 2
• Do properties of exponents work for roots?
Same rules apply.
• What form must radical be in?
Fractional exponent form
• How do you know when a radical is in
simplest form?
When there are no more numbers to the root
power as factors of the number under the
radical.
• Before you can add or subtract radicals
what must be true?
The number under the radicals must be the
same.