Rational Exponent

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May 1st 2012, 03:27 AM
Azusa

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Rational Exponent

Really sorry for asking so many questions but my test is about to begin and I'm running into quite a few problems on my review...
This time, it is rational exponents.

Attachment 23750

The answer is apparently:
Attachment 23749

**I don't know where they got 23/3 from. I know the 56 is from 7*8, but that's pretty much all I could understand? Multiplying the exponents always gives me an 8. Mind telling me what I'm doing wrong? Might it be a typo?

Thank You,
Azusa.
May 1st 2012, 03:31 AM
emakarov

Re: Rational Exponent

Exponents are added, but only when the base is the same: $x^\alpha\cdot x^\beta=x^{\alpha+\beta}$ .
May 1st 2012, 03:32 AM
Prove It

Re: Rational Exponent

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azusa

Really sorry for asking so many questions but my test is about to begin and I'm running into quite a few problems on my review...
This time, it is rational exponents.

Attachment 23750

The answer is apparently:
Attachment 23749

**I don't know where they got 23/3 from. I know the 56 is from 7*8, but that's pretty much all I could understand? Multiplying the exponents always gives me an 8. Mind telling me what I'm doing wrong? Might it be a typo?

Thank You,
Azusa.

You're not supposed to multiply the exponents. You're supposed to know that $\displaystyle \begin{align*} a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n} \end{align*}$ , so you're supposed to add them.
May 1st 2012, 03:36 AM
Azusa

Re: Rational Exponent

Ahh... Right. I'm so nervous I had forgotten other (correct) methods. Thank You!!!!