Thread: fractional exponents - without calculators

How does

2/3 * (2)^3/2 = 4/3 * root 2

i got as far as: 2/3 * root 2 ^ 3 but i cant seem to simplify.

Originally Posted by calculus0

How does

2/3 * (2)^3/2 = 4/3 * root 2

i got as far as: 2/3 * root 2 ^ 3 but i cant seem to simplify.

well...

Are you familiar with this rule:

And the fact that

Originally Posted by calculus0

2/3 * (2)^3/2 = 4/3 * root 2

Your equation is "wrong" due to poor bracketing; should be:
2/3 * 2^(3/2) = 4/3 * root 2

(2)^3/2 = 8/2 = 4 : kapish?

Thank you anonymous!

Originally Posted by Wilmer

Your equation is "wrong" due to poor bracketing; should be:
2/3 * 2^(3/2) = 4/3 * root 2

(2)^3/2 = 8/2 = 4 : kapish?

Its just ambiguous, not wrong. For instance, MATLAB evaluates 2^3/2 as

So, MATLAB says your wrong.

Originally Posted by Anonymous1

Its just ambiguous, not wrong. For instance, MATLAB evaluates 2^3/2 as
So, MATLAB says your wrong.

MATLAB can say anything it wants, I care not;
BUT 2^3/2 = 8/2 = 4

The standard order of operations.
The standard order of operations, or precedence, is expressed in the following chart.
exponents and roots
multiplication and division
addition and subtraction