Topic 4.

Exponents and Radicals

Definition of Terms:
Exponents
-Is the number written on the top right side of the quantity to indicate how many times that quantity is
used as a factor in multiplication.
Power of a Quantity- is the product obtained when a quantity is multiplied by itself one or more times.
Base of a Power- is the quantity that is multiplied by itself one or more times.
Radical- is an indicated root of a quantity. √ is the radical symbol
Radicand- is the quantity or expression within the radical sign. √ 9, 9 is the radicand
Index of the radical- is the quantity written on the hook of the radical sign that indicates the root to be
taken. √
3
27 ,3 is the index, when no index is indicated, the radical sign indicates a square root
Similar radical- are those having the same radicand and the same index.
Surd- is an indicated root of a positive whole quantity or fraction that cannot be found exactly.

Positive- Integral and Laws of Exponents

Example:
4 5 9 b 2 b+ 2
1. 2 .2 =2 , 2. 5 .5 =5
1 1 3
3 2 5
3. b . b =b , 2 4
4. x . x =¿ x 4

Example:
II. The power of a Product Law.
the power of a product is equal to the • III.
2 The division Law or 4Quotient of Powers Law
1.(ax ) =a 2 x 2 2.(−3 b ³ x ²) =81 b12 x 8
-the quotient of two powers with the same base is equal
3.(3 a 2 c )3 = 27 a 6 c 3 4.(−2 a 3 y ⁴ )3=−8 a 9 y 12
equal to the difference of the exponents of the numerators
product of the powers.

xm m−n
1. Case A =x m>n
xn
m
x 1 1
2. Case B n = n −m = m m<n
x x x
m
x 0
3. Case B n =x =1 m=n
x
Example:
3
12 m ³ 3x ³ y⁴ x³ 1 2 2 8
1. = 4m² 2. =x°=1 3. = y 4 −x 4. = y−2 = 5. ( ) ³= 3 =
3m 3x ³ y˟ x⁵ y² 3 3 27
4 2
2a² 2 (a ) ⁴ 16 a8
6. ( )⁴ = 4 =
3b 3 (b) ⁴ 81 b ⁴

Activity 1. Answer the following. This is a graded activity.

−1
1. ( 2 x²)²
 m+5
y
2. m
y
y m+1
3.
y m−1
x4 y ³ z ³ 4 a⁴
4. ( )³ ( x ³ y ² z ² )²
2a²
6 m2 n 3
( 3 4 )³
s t
5.
3 m3 n 4
( 4 5 )²
s t

Negative – Integral and Zero Exponents

Negative-Integral Exponent notations:

m
1
x = −m if x≠0
x
−m
1
x = m if x≠0
x
Example:
1
3−2 =
9
1 3
−3 = 2 = 8
2
1
x y
( )⁻ⁱ = x =
y x
y
Activity 2. Answer the following. This is a graded activity.

1. a³b⁻³c⁴ =
a−2 c ⁴
2. =
b ⁻³
−2
x y⁻ ³
3. ( −2 )⁻³
2 x ⁻ ⁱy ⁻²
2
4. 2x⁻ⁱ - x
x −2 y ⁻²
5. −2
x −y⁻ ²

Fractional Exponents
m s
• Let and be any two rational number, where n and t are positive integers, then
n t
 m s mt +ns
I . x . x t = x nt
n

m m s ms
II. ( x n )s/t = x n . t =x nt
m
xn mt−ns
III. s =x nt

x t

Example
Simplify the following:
2 3 8+ 9 17
• 1. m 3 . m 4 = m 12 =
m 12
3
y4 3−1 1
• 2. 1
=y 4 =
y2
y 4

1 1
• 3. (2 3 )⁻⁹ =
8

Expression with fractional exponents can be expressed in Radical Form

Example
2
1. 8 3
=√3 2
8
= √ 64
3

=4
1
2. x 3
=√
3
x
1
3. 27 3
=√
3
27
=3
3
4. 16 2
= √ 16³
= 64
1
⁻²
x x²
5. ⁻³ = 1
y
y³
y³
=x²

Activity 3. Express each with a radical sign or positive-integral exponents. This is a graded activity
−1
1. x 2
−1
2. (xy ) 3
 1
3. ( x 2 ¿ ⁻³
4. (x³y⁻²)⁻1/6
5. (x⁻³)²

Radicand as a Whole Number

Procedure
1. Find two factors of the given radicand such that one of the factors is the biggest possible perfect
square.
2. Extract the square root of the perfect square factor and write it as the coefficient of the radical whose
radicand is the other factor.
3. If there is a coefficient in the given radical multiply it by the square root found in step 2.
Example
1. √ 50= 5√2
2. √ 72 = 6√2
3. 5√ 12 = 10√3
1
4. √ 75= √3
5
1
5. √ 125= 5/2 √5
2

Activity 4. Perform the indicated operations and simplify. (Graded Activity)

1. √ 243
2. √ 150
3
3. √ 16
4
2
4. √ 75
5
1
5. √ 100
2

Simplifying 2nd Order Radical- Radicand is a fraction

Procedure
1. Find the smallest possible number which when multiplied by both numerator and denominator will
make the denominator a perfect square
2. Find the two factors of the new fraction such that one of the factors is the biggest possible perfect
square.
3. Extract the square root of the perfect square factor and write it as the coefficient of the radical whose
radicand is the other factor.
4. If there is a coefficient in the given radical multiply it by the square root found in step 3.
Example:

1.
√ 5 = 1/3 √5
9
2.
√ 2 = 1/3 √6
3
 3.
√ b = 1/𝑦 √𝑏𝑦
y
4.
√ a ² = 𝑎/𝑏 √𝑏
b

Activity 5. Perform the indicated operations and simplify: (Graded Activity)

1.
√x²
3
2.
√2 y²
3
3.
√b³
y³

√
4
4. 2b d ³
3x³
5.
x √
2a 5 x ⁵
4a

Simplifying 2nd Order Radical- Radicand is a An Algebraic Expression

Procedure
1. Find two factors of the given radicand, one of which is the biggest possible perfect square
2. Extract the square root of the perfect square factor and write as it the coefficient of the
radical whose radicand is the other factor.
3. If there is a coefficient in the given radical, multiply it by the square root found in step 2.
Note: Any even power of a literal factor, is a perfect square. If the exponent is odd, the
lower even power of each factor is the biggest possible perfect square.
Example
1. √ x ² y =x√ y
2. -m²n√ 48 m ³ n ⁷ = -4m³n⁴√ 3 mn
3. 2a√ 12 a⁶ b ⁵ = 4a⁴b²√ 3 b
4. √ a ³ = a√ a
3x
5. √32 x ³ y ⁴ = 3x²y√ 2 x
4y

Activity 6. Perform the indicated operations and simplify. (Graded Activity)

1
1. √54 m²
3m
3m
2. √ 48 m ⁴ n ⁴
4n
3. 3b√ 2 ab ⁶
4. √ 27 a ³
1
5. √153 x ⁷ y ¹¹
x² y ³
Simplification of Radicals- Radical of the 3rd Order
Procedure
1. Find two factors of the given radicand, one of which is the biggest possible perfect cube.
2. Extract the cube root of the perfect cube factor and write it as the coefficient of the
radical whose radicand is the other factor.
3. If there is a coefficient in the given radical, multiply it by the cube root found in step 2.
• Note
a. If the radicand is a fraction, find the smallest possible number which when multiplied by
both numerator and denominator will make the denominator a perfect cube.
b. In simplifying radicals of any order find two factors of the given radicand, one of which is
the biggest possible power whose degree is equal to the order of the radical and follow
the procedure
Example
1. √
3
32 = 2√ 4
3

2. √
3
x ³ y ⁶ z ⁷ = xy²z²√3 z
3.
√
3 y

b b
13
= √b ² y

4.
√
3 3

4 2
13
= √6

5.
√
3 m⁴ x⁴

4y
=
3x 3
2y √
2 mxy

Activity 7. Perform the indicated operations and simplify. (Graded Activity)

1.
√
5 3 8
16 25

√
2. 3 2
9

√
3. 3 8 ny
5x ²

√
4. 2a 3 a ³ b ⁶
64

c √
5. 3 b 3 4 c ⁵
b²

Addition and Subtraction of Radicals

Procedure
1. Simplify each radical
2. Add the coefficient of the radicals having the same radicand and index.
Ex.
3√2 +4 √2-5 √2
=(3+4-5) √2
=2 √2
Example
√ 24 +√ 54+ √96
 =√ 4.6 +√ 9.6+¿ √ 16.6
=2 √ 6 + 3 √ 6 + 4 √ 6
=9 √ 6
2
2. x√ 2 y + √ 32 x ² y - √ 8 x ² y ³
y
2
= x√ 2 y + 4 x √ 2 y - .2 xy √ 2 y
y
= x√ 2 y + 4 x √ 2 y - 4 x √ 2 y
= x√ 2 y
Example:

√ √ √
1
1. + +
3
1
6
1 1 √3 1 √6 1 √2
2 3
=
2. 4√ x +6√ x -9√ x =√ x
+
6
+
2

√
3. 8
3 1 √ 48
+
8 4 √ 3
+ 4√ 96 - 4 =18√ 6 - √ 3
4
4. 3√ 50 - 3√ 48 + 2√ 12=15√ 2 - 8 √ 3

Activity 8. Add or subtract Radicals. (Graded activity)

1. √ 54 - 2√ 128 +3√ 250
3 3 3

2. √ 80-√ 45-3 √ 20
2 2
3. 3 √ 147+ 3 √ 27+√ 108
2 1
4. 4√ 180+ 3 √ 45 - 5 √ 20

√ √ √
5. 9 - 2 7 + 8
8 8 9

Multiplication of Radicals
Procedure
1. To find the coefficient of the product, multiply the coefficients of the given radicals.
2. To find the radicand of the product, multiply the radicands of the given radicals.
3. Whenever possible, simplify the resulting radical.
Note:
a. Two radicals must be of the same index or order to apply the rules stated.
b. Radicals having the same index or order can be multiplied immediately
c. Radicals having different indices cannot be multiplied immediately.
Example
1. (2) (4√ 3)
=8√ 3
2. (3 √ 5)¿)
=6√ 40
=6√ 4.10
=6.2√ 10
 =12√ 10
3. (7√ 8)(√ 2)
=7√ 16
=7.4
=28
4. (√ 6) (√3 9)
3

= √3 54
=√3 27.2
=3√3 2
5. (2√ 5+3)(2√ 5−¿ 3)
=4√ 25-6√ 5+6√ 5-9
=20-9
=11

Activity 9. Multiply the following Radicals. (graded Activity)

1. (√3 2 x ³ ) (√3 16 y ²)
2. (√ x+ y +4)(√ x+ y -4)
3. ¿)²
4. (√ 10)(2 √ 6 - 5 √ 8)
5.( √3 m ²¿ ¿ )

Division of Radicals
Procedure
1. To find the coefficient of the quotient, divide the coefficients by the coefficient of the
divisor.
2. To find the radicand of the quotient, divide the radicand of the dividend by the radicand
of the divisor.
3. Whenever possible, simplify the resulting radical.
Example
√24 = 8 = 2 2
1. √ √
√3
8 √ 98
2.
2 √2
= 4√ 49
=28
6
3.
√2
=6
√ √ 1
2
.
2
2
=6
√6
2
4
= √2
2
=3√ 2
8 √ 12 6 √ 6 4 √ 96
4. - +
2 √ 3 2 √3 2 √ 3
= 4√ 4 - 3√ 2+ 2√ 32
=4.2 - 3√ 2+ 2√ 16.2
=8 - 3√ 2+ 8√ 2
=8+5√ 2

Activity 10. Divide the following radicals. (Graded Activity)

20
1.
√5
√21 x ³
2.
√3 x
√ 8 m⁵ n ⁵ + √ 18 m³ n ³ √24 mn
3. -
√ 2 mn √2 mn √ 2mn
2y²
4.
2√ 2 y
5. √
4 m4 n √ 2 m 5 n 2 √ 4 m ² n ²
− +
√2 m ² n √2 m ² n √ 2 m² n

Multiplication and Division of Radicals of Different Orders (index)

Procedure
1. To multiply or divide radicals of different indices, change them all to the same index.
2. Express the radicals with fractional exponents.
3. Change the fractional exponents to equivalent fractions with the same denominators.
4. Rewrite the equivalent fractional exponent in radical form
5. Perform the indicated operations by following the procedures.
Example
1. (√3 5 )(√ 6 )
1 1
= (5 3 )(6 2 )
2 3
=(5 6 ¿(6 6 )
=√6 52 . √6 63
=(√6 25 ¿ ¿)
=√6 5,400
2. √3 2 m . √4 3 m²
1 1
=2 m 3 . (3 m ² ¿¿ 4
4 3
=(2 m) 12 . (3 m ² ¿¿ 12
=12√ (2m)⁴ √(3 m 2)³
12

=12√ 16 m ⁴ 12√ 27 m⁶
=12√ 432m ¹⁰
 1

3.
√4 3
=
4 3

√6 2 2
1
6
2

=
4 6
=
√
6 2
4
1
2 6 √6 2
√
6
= 6
16
√2
=√ 8
6

=√ 2
Activity 11. Simplify the following: (Graded Activity)
1. √ 5 . √3 25
2. √ 2t . √3 4 t ² . √4 4 t ³
√4 x ² y ³
3. 6 4
√x y ²
4. √ a . √3 a ² .√6 a ⁵
√ 2 xy
5. 4
√9 x ² y ³