Roots, Radicals and Root Functions

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.
All rights reserved

Sec 9.2 - 1
Chapter 9
Roots, Radicals, and Root

Functions
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sec 9.2 - 2
9.2
Rational Exponents
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Sec 9.2 - 3
9.2 Rational Exponents
Objectives
1. Use exponential notation for nth roots.

2. Define and use expressions of the form am/n.
3. Convert between radicals and rational exponents.
4. Use the rules for exponents with rational exponents.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Sec 9.2 - 4
Exponents of the Form a1/n
a1/n
n
If a is a real number, then
n
a1/n = a.
EXAMPLE 1 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form a1/n

Evaluate each expression.
3
(a) 271/3 = 27 = 3
(b) 641/2 = 64 = 8
4
(c) –625 1/4 = – 625 = –5
4
(d) (–625)1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.
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) –625 1/4 = – 625 = –5
4
(d) (–625) 1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.
EXAMPLE 1 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form a1/n

Evaluate each expression.
5
(e) (–243)1/5 = –243 = –3
4 1/2 4 2
(f) = =
25 25 5
Exponents of the Form am/n
am/n
If m and n are positive integers with m/n in lowest terms, then
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.
EXAMPLE 2 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form am/n

Evaluate each exponential.
(a) 253/2 = ( 251/2 )3 = 53 = 125
(b) 322/5 = ( 321/5 )2 = 22 = 4
(c) –274/3 = –( 27)4/3 = –( 271/3 )4 = –(3)4 = –81
(d) (–64)2/3 = [(–64)1/3 ]2 = (–4)2 = 16
(e) (–16)3/2 is not a real number, since (–16)1/2 is not a real number.
EXAMPLE 3 Evaluating Exponentials with Negative
Rational Exponents
(a) 32–4/5
By the definition of a negative exponent,
–4/5
1
32 = 4/5 .
32
5 4
Since 32 4/5
= 32 = 24 = 16,
1 1
= 32 –4/5
= = .
324/5 16
EXAMPLE 3 Evaluating Exponentials with Negative
Rational Exponents
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
27 4 3 4 81
8 –4/3 27 4/3
= = 3 = =
27 8 8 2 16
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.
1 1
–321/5 = –2, 32–1/5 = , and –32–1/5 = – .
2 2
Alternative Definition of am/n
am/n
If all indicated roots are real numbers, then
am/n = ( a1/n ) m = ( a m ) 1/n.
Radical Form of am/n
Radical Form of am/n
If all indicated roots are real numbers, then
n n
am/n = am= ( )a . m
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.
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.
= 15 6 10 5
(a) 151/2 (b) 105/6 = ( )
3 n 2
(c) 4n2/3 = 4( )
4 h 3 5 2h 2
(d) 7h3/4 – (2h)2/5 = 7( ) – ( )
1 1
(e) g –4/5 = =
g4/5 5 g 4
( )
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
(h) 5 = m, since m is positive.

m5
Rules for Rational Exponents
Rules for 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 r
r
a · a = a s r+s
a –r
= r s = a
r–s = br
a a b a
r 1
a = ar
r r
(a ) r s
= a rs
( ab ) r
= a b r r
a –r
= .
b b a
EXAMPLE 5 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

Write with only positive exponents. Assume that all variables represent
positive real numbers.
(a) 63/4 · 61/2 = 63/4 + 1/2 = 65/4 Product rule
(b) 32/3 1
= 32/3 – 5/6 = 3–1/6 = Quotient rule
35/6 31/6

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–3/16 n9/2 Power rule

m6 n–1/2
= m–3/16 – 6 n9/2 – (–1/2) Quotient rule
= m–99/16 n5
n5 Definition of negative
=
m99/16 exponent

(d) x3/5(x–1/2 – x3/4) = x3/5 · x–1/2 – x3/5 · x3/4 Distributive property
= x3/5 + (–1/2) – x3/5 + 3/4 Product rule
= x1/10 – x27/20
Do not make the common mistake of multiplying exponents in the

first step.
Caution on Converting Expressions to Radical Form
CAUTION
Use the rules of exponents in problems like those in Example 5. Do not

convert the expressions to radical form.

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 3/4 2/3
(a) a 3 · a2 = a · a Convert to rational exponents.
= a3/4 + 2/3 Product rule
= a9/12 + 8/12 Write exponents with a common

denominator
= a17/12

4
(b) c = c1/4 Convert to rational exponents.
c3/2
c3
= c1/4 – 3/2 Quotient rule
= c1/4 – 6/4 Write exponents with a common

denominator
= c–5/4
1
= Definition of negative exponent
5/4
c

(c) 5 3 5
x2 = x2/3
= ( x2/3 )1/5
= x2/15

Roots, Radicals and Root Functions

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Roots, Radicals and Root Functions

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc.

All rights reserved

Roots, Radicals, and Root

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved

1. Use exponential notation for nth roots.

Exponents of the Form a1/n

EXAMPLE 1 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form a1/n

EXAMPLE 1 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form a1/n

Exponents of the Form am/n

If m and n are positive integers with m/n in lowest terms, then

EXAMPLE 2 Evaluating Exponentials of the Form am/n

(a) 253/2 = ( 251/2 )3 = 53 = 125

(b) 322/5 = ( 321/5 )2 = 22 = 4

(c) –274/3 = –( 27)4/3 = –( 271/3 )4 = –(3)4 = –81

(d) (–64)2/3 = [(–64)1/3 ]2 = (–4)2 = 16

By the definition of a negative exponent,

Alternative Definition of am/n

If all indicated roots are real numbers, then

am/n = ( a1/n ) m = ( a m ) 1/n.

Radical Form of am/n

Radical Form of am/n

If all indicated roots are real numbers, then

(h) 5 = m, since m is positive.

Rules for Rational Exponents

Rules for Rational Exponents

EXAMPLE 5 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

(a) 63/4 · 61/2 = 63/4 + 1/2 = 65/4 Product rule

EXAMPLE 5 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

m1/4 n–6 –3/4 (m1/4)–3/4 (n–6)–3/4

= m–3/16 n9/2 Power rule

= m–3/16 – 6 n9/2 – (–1/2) Quotient rule

EXAMPLE 5 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

(d) x3/5(x–1/2 – x3/4) = x3/5 · x–1/2 – x3/5 · x3/4 Distributive property

= x3/5 + (–1/2) – x3/5 + 3/4 Product rule

Do not make the common mistake of multiplying exponents in the

Caution on Converting Expressions to Radical Form

Use the rules of exponents in problems like those in Example 5. Do not

EXAMPLE 6 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

= a3/4 + 2/3 Product rule

= a9/12 + 8/12 Write exponents with a common

EXAMPLE 6 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

= c1/4 – 6/4 Write exponents with a common

EXAMPLE 6 Applying Rules for Rational Exponents

You might also like