# Math Help - Simplifying an expression

1. ## Simplifying an expression

Hi, I'm trying to understand how this expression is simplified. (Disclaimer: I don't know how to get this expression into the text here - so have entered it in Grapher, taken a screenshot, and attached it. If anyone could point me to the relevant FAQ on how to enter this kind of expression directly, I'd be much obliged).

The answer given is the second screen shot.

2. Originally Posted by earachefl
Hi, I'm trying to understand how this expression is simplified. (Disclaimer: I don't know how to get this expression into the text here - so have entered it in Grapher, taken a screenshot, and attached it. If anyone could point me to the relevant FAQ on how to enter this kind of expression directly, I'd be much obliged).

The book gives the answer as $??b?$

see here on how to write radical signs as powers.

then notice that $\sqrt[3] {b^2 \sqrt {b}} = \left( b^2 \cdot b^{\frac {1}{2}} \right)^{\frac {1}{3}}$

Can you take it from here?

3. Thanks for both the hint and the tips on writing exponents for the forum. Having said that, your link doesn't show how you entered your equation, which shows up in my browser as an image link with the source showing

<a href="javascript:;" onclick="do_texpopup('\\sqrt[3] {b^2 \\sqrt {b}} = \\left( b^2 \\cdot b^{\\frac {1}{2}} \\right)^{\\frac {1}{3}}', 'math'); return false;"><img src="http://www.mathhelpforum.com/math-help/latex2/img/d8b692684f32d78cd66af4e9e3154f62-1.gif" alt="\sqrt[3] {b^2 \sqrt {b}} = \left( b^2 \cdot b^{\frac {1}{2}} \right)^{\frac {1}{3}}" title="\sqrt[3] {b^2 \sqrt {b}} = \left( b^2 \cdot b^{\frac {1}{2}} \right)^{\frac {1}{3}}" style="border: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" /></a
So how do you do that?

My problem was that I was looking at the b^2 part as being the index of b^(1/2), instead of just realizing that it was a simple multiplication of b^2 with b^(1/2).

4. Originally Posted by earachefl
Thanks for both the hint and the tips on writing exponents for the forum. Having said that, your link doesn't show how you entered your equation, which shows up in my browser as an image link with the source showing

So how do you do that?
I'm sorry, i don't know what you are referring to here. are you talking about the pretty-math typing, or the diagram with the flower?

My problem was that I was looking at the b^2 part as being the index of b^(1/2), instead of just realizing that it was a simple multiplication of b^2 with b^(1/2).
so, are you able to work out the answer now? what is the answer?

5. Originally Posted by Jhevon
I'm sorry, i don't know what you are referring to here. are you talking about the pretty-math typing, or the diagram with the flower?

b^(5/6)

which is the answer; it just doesn't look like an equation.
Originally Posted by Jhevon
so, are you able to work out the answer now? what is the answer?
yes, thank, see above

6. Originally Posted by earachefl

b^(5/6)

which is the answer; it just doesn't look like an equation.

yes, thank, see above
i used the equation to show that they were the same thing, not necessarily to solve the equation

the complete answer would look something like:

$\sqrt[3] {b^2 \sqrt {b}} = \left( b^2 \cdot b^{\frac {1}{2}} \right)^{\frac {1}{3}} = \boxed { b^{5/6} }$

7. Originally Posted by Jhevon
i used the equation to show that they were the same thing, not necessarily to solve the equation

the complete answer would look something like:

$\boxed { b^{5/6} }$
yes, I understand. What I'm trying to say is that the way your answers are graphically represented in my browser is better than just typing

b^(5/6)

as an example; your answers look like real equations! Are you typing in all that extra code

\boxed { b^{5/6} }

or is there a simpler way of doing it?