High School Math : Expressing Radicals as Exponents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

Express the following exponent in radical form:

\(\displaystyle x^{\frac{1}{3}}y^{\frac{1}{2}}z^{\frac{3}{2}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle z^3\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

\(\displaystyle z\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

\(\displaystyle z^6\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

\(\displaystyle z^2\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle z\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

Explanation:

Begin by converting each exponent to have a denominator of \(\displaystyle 6\):

\(\displaystyle x^{\frac{1}{3}}y^{\frac{1}{2}}z^{\frac{3}{2}}\)

\(\displaystyle =x^{\frac{2}{6}}y^{\frac{3}{6}}z^{\frac{9}{6}}\) 

Now, rearrange into radical form:

\(\displaystyle =\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^9}\) 

Finally, simplify:

\(\displaystyle =z\sqrt[6]{x^2y^3z^3}\)

Example Question #11 : Expressing Radicals As Exponents

Express the following exponent in radical form:

\(\displaystyle r^2s^{\frac{1}{3}}y^{\frac{1}{2}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle r^4\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

\(\displaystyle r^6\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

\(\displaystyle r\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

\(\displaystyle r^2\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

\(\displaystyle r^3\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle r^2\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

Explanation:

Begin by converting each exponent to have a denominator of \(\displaystyle 6\):

\(\displaystyle r^2s^{\frac{1}{3}}y^{\frac{1}{2}}\)

\(\displaystyle =r^{\frac{12}{6}}s^{\frac{2}{6}}y^{\frac{3}{6}}\)

Now, put this in radical form:

\(\displaystyle =\sqrt[6]{r^{12}s^2y^3}\)

Finally, simplify:

\(\displaystyle =r^2\sqrt[6]{s^2y^3}\)

Example Question #11 : Expressing Radicals As Exponents

Simplify the following radical expression using exponents. Express the final answer in radical form.

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[6]{8n^9}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2n\sqrt{2n}\)

\(\displaystyle 3n\sqrt{3n}\)

\(\displaystyle 2n\sqrt{3n}\)

\(\displaystyle n\sqrt{3n}\)

\(\displaystyle n\sqrt{2n}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle n\sqrt{2n}\)

Explanation:

Begin by converting the radical into exponent form:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[6]{8n^9}\)

\(\displaystyle (8^{\frac{1}{6}}n^{\frac{9}{6}})\)

Simplify the exponent and multiply:

\(\displaystyle (2^3^{\frac{1}{6}}n^{\frac{9}{6}})\)

\(\displaystyle (2^{\frac{1}{2}}n^{\frac{3}{2}})\)

Convert into radical form:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt{2n^3}\)

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle n\sqrt{2n}\)

 

Example Question #51 : Mathematical Relationships And Basic Graphs

Express the following exponent in radical form:

\(\displaystyle (3x)^{\frac{1}{2}}x^{\frac{1}{4}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[4]{9x^2}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[4]{9x^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[2]{7x^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[4]{7x^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[2]{9x^3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \sqrt[4]{9x^3}\)

Explanation:

Begin by changing the fractional exponents so that they both have a common denominator of \(\displaystyle 4\):

\(\displaystyle (3x)^{\frac{1}{2}}x^{\frac{1}{4}}\)

\(\displaystyle =(3x)^{\frac{2}{4}}x^{\frac{1}{4}}\)

Now, put this in radical form and simplify:

\(\displaystyle =\sqrt[4]{(3x)^2x}\)

\(\displaystyle =\sqrt[4]{9x^2x}\)

\(\displaystyle =\sqrt[4]{9x^3}\)

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