# Math Help - Rational Exponent

1. ## 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.

**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.

2. ## Re: Rational Exponent

Exponents are added, but only when the base is the same: $x^\alpha\cdot x^\beta=x^{\alpha+\beta}$.

3. ## Re: Rational Exponent

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.

**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.

4. ## Re: Rational Exponent

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