# Math Help - Factoring involving Fractional exponents

1. ## Factoring involving Fractional exponents

Hey guys, i was wondering if someone cud help me out with this problem!

Factor and simplify

(x+4)^1/5 - (x+4)^6/5

need some help asap!

2. ## Re :

$(x+4)^{\frac{1}{5}}-(x+4)^{\frac{6}{5}}$

$
=(x+4)^{\frac{1}{5}}(1-(x+4)^6)
$

3. thanks for the reply and the answer... but i didnt understand how you did that, if you can just explain a little , i would really appreciate it , thank you very much

4. Take out the common factor which is $(x+4)^{\frac{1}{5}} .$

so the first part of the equation reduces to 1 and the second part has a power of 6 ( Note that $\frac{1}{5}\times6=\frac{6}{5}$)

5. Thank you!

$(x+4)^{\frac{1}{5}}-(x+4)^{\frac{6}{5}}$

$
=(x+4)^{\frac{1}{5}}(1-(x+4)^{\color{red}6})
$
actually, the powers must ADD to give the original. so that 6 should be 1, since 1 + 1/5 gives the original 6/5 for the power of the second term.

7. Alright.. Thank you, that will be noted

8. Originally Posted by xxabbasxx
Alright.. Thank you, that will be noted
yes, it should be noted already that $x^a \cdot x^b = x^{a + b}$