# Math Help - Help understanding to solve these problems

1. ## Help understanding to solve these problems

Problem 1:

1 x + 1 < 1 x + 2
6......2...12......3

Problem 2: The colored, bold numbers are exponents.

2 x2 (3 xy) (-3x2y2)

Problem 3: The colored, bold numbers are exponents. Double-parentheses denotes a much larger parentheses.

(-16 s2t3) ((3 t5))
..................8

Problem 4: The colored, bold numbers are exponents.

3 c5 d3
6 c3 d5

Problem 5: The colored, bold numbers are exponents. Double-parentheses denotes a much larger parenthesis.

(( 3 a2 b c-1 ))-2
...9 a-1 b-1 c

I appreciate any guidance in advance on how to work these out.

2. Originally Posted by slykksta
1 x + 1 < 1 x + 2
6......2...12......3
$\frac{1}{6}x + \frac{1}{2} < \frac{1}{12}x + \frac{2}{3}$

First, let's get rid of those pesky fractions. The least common multiple of 6, 2, 12 and 3 is 12. So multiply both sides of the inequality by 12:
$12 \left ( \frac{1}{6}x + \frac{1}{2} \right ) < 12 \left ( \frac{1}{12}x + \frac{2}{3} \right )$

$2x + 6 > x + 8$

$2x + 6 - 6 > x + 8 - 6$

$2x > x + 2$

$2x - x > -x + x + 2$

$x > 2$

-Dan

3. Originally Posted by slykksta
Problem 2: The colored, bold numbers are exponents.

2 x2 (3 xy) (-3x2y2)

Problem 3: The colored, bold numbers are exponents. Double-parentheses denotes a much larger parentheses.

(-16 s2t3) ((3 t5))
..................8

Problem 4: The colored, bold numbers are exponents.

3 c5 d3
6 c3 d5

Problem 5: The colored, bold numbers are exponents. Double-parentheses denotes a much larger parenthesis.

(( 3 a2 b c-1 ))-2
...9 a-1 b-1 c

I appreciate any guidance in advance on how to work these out.
The rest of these involve applications of the following rules: (with suitable conditions on a and b)
$a^nb^n = (ab)^n$

$a^na^m = a^{n + m}$

$(a^n)^m = a^{nm}$

$a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}$

$\frac{1}{a^{-n}} = a^n$

Typically you want to get rid of the parenthesis first, then the negative exponents.

So let's look at the last problem. (If you can do that one you can do them all.)

$\frac{(3a^2bc^{-1})^{-2}}{9a^{-1}b^{-1}c}$

Parenthesis first:
$= \frac{(3)^{-2}(a^2)^{-2}(b)^{-2}(c^{-1})^{-2}}{9a^{-1}b^{-1}c}$

More parenthesis:
$= \frac{3^{-2}a^{2 \cdot -2}b^{-2}c^{-1 \cdot -2}}{9a^{-1}b^{-1}c}$

$= \frac{3^{-2}a^{-4}b^{-2}c^2}{9a^{-1}b^{-1}c}$

Now get rid of the negative powers:
$= \frac{abc^2}{3^2a^4b^2 \cdot 9c}$

$= \frac{abc^2}{81a^4b^2c}$

Now simplify:
$= \frac{c}{81a^3b}$

Each one of these lines contains simplifications given by the rules I listed above.

-Dan

4. ## Thanks!!

Thanks, that really cleared it up for me.