# simple question but forgot how to solve

• March 31st 2010, 04:41 PM
PrincessIsrael
simple question but forgot how to solve
(8a^8)^.5
• March 31st 2010, 04:44 PM
pickslides
You can't sovle it unless it has an equals sign.
• March 31st 2010, 04:48 PM
Stroodle
I think you mean simplify, not solve?

$(8a^8)^{\frac{1}{2}}$

$=(2^3a^8)^{\frac{1}{2}}$

$=2^{\frac{3}{2}}a^{\frac{8}{2}}$

$=2^{\frac{3}{2}}a^4$

$=2\sqrt{2}a^4$
• March 31st 2010, 04:48 PM
PrincessIsrael
haha okay so what does it equal
• March 31st 2010, 04:48 PM
Jhevon
Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessIsrael
(8a^8)^.5

Did you mean simplify?

A nice way to do this: factor the radicand (do you know what that is?) using the largest factors you can find the square root of. then break the problem into two sqaure roots. In the first, throw everything that simplifies, in the last, everything that doesn't

$\sqrt{8a^8} = \sqrt{4 \cdot 2 \cdot a^8}$

$= \sqrt{4a^8} \cdot \sqrt 2$

$= 2a^4 \sqrt 2$
• April 1st 2010, 02:54 AM
HallsofIvy
Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessIsrael
haha okay so what does it equal

You were just told what the answer is!