simplify exponents

**Graeme** · May 14th 2008, 12:49 AM

2N $ ^{\frac{2}{5}} $ h $ ^{\frac{3}{5}} $
do I just multiply 2 X N then take the answer and raise to the power of 2/5
Or do I raise N to the power of 2/5 and then X by 2

**Reckoner** · May 14th 2008, 01:33 AM

Originally Posted by Graeme

2N $ ^{\frac{2}{5}} $ h $ ^{\frac{3}{5}} $
do I just multiply 2 X N then take the answer and raise to the power of 2/5
Or do I raise N to the power of 2/5 and then X by 2

Do you mean $2N^{\frac25}h^{\frac35}$ ? If so, exponentiation takes precedence over multiplication, so you have to take $N$ to the $\frac25$ before you multiply by two, unless the problem is written with the $2N$ in parentheses.

**Graeme** · May 14th 2008, 01:38 AM

Thanks
So if I raise N to the power of 2/5 then x 2 =answer a
Then h to the power 3/5 =answer b
then a x b does that look correct

**Reckoner** · May 14th 2008, 01:41 AM

Originally Posted by Graeme

Thanks
So if I raise N to the power of 2/5 then x 2 =answer a
Then h to the power 3/5 =answer b
then a x b does that look correct

Yes, this is the correct order.

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