4.

3 Working with Rational Exponents

Minds on…
1. In Chapter 3, learned about radicals. Here, we are still working with radicals but with
various indexes.

Here’s some vocabulary:

n
x radical sign (also known as “square root”)
index radicand

n
2. The symbol n indicates an nth root, and x represents the principal nth root of x.
1

For example, the expression 64 = 3 64 is read as “the cube root of 64” or as the “third root
3

of 64”.

3. An exponent could be a fraction or a rational number. In that case,

( )
m
m
a = n a m = n a , where m and n are positive integers and 𝑎 ≠ 0. (Note: Add this to your
n

knowledge of exponent laws.)

Action…
1. Evaluate without using a calculator. Use your knowledge of exponent laws.
2 0 .2 −2.5
−
(
a) 27 3 ) b) 32 9
1 2 1
= 2 = 32 10 = 2.5
(27)3 1 9
= 325 1
1 5 = 5
= = √32
2 92
3
( √27) =2 1
= 5
2
OR (√9)
1 1
= 1
(3)2 = 325 = 5
1 3
1 = (25 )5 1
= =
9 =2 243
2. Simplify without using a calculator. Write each answer with positive exponents.

 16 
7
 − 34  85  −
1

8  11 11   −1  2
 4
    16 2  
    
  c)   
a) 1 1
b) 3
2    
2 3
11 −1 −1
8 8 −3 5 ×2× 4
7 11 4 +8 = (16) 2
86 = 3
= 1 1
112
+ 1
82 3
= (16)4
−1
7 11 8
86 = 3
= 5 112
86 −1 3
= 11 8 −2
2
= 86 −13
= 11 8
1
= 83 1
= 13
11 8

4 3 5
(4) 4
=
23
25
d) 10 25
2
3 4 23
(42 ) (45 ) = 2 5 −5
= 10
(2 2 ) −2
=25
3 4
4 2 +5
= 1
25 = 2
23
410 25
=
25
23
2
(2 )10
=
25
Consolidation….
Simplify. Write each answer with positive exponents.
−3
(y )
1 9
  5 −5
 −1

( )
7 2
x  −8 2
4
 b 
4
 
   − 32 
4 c)
a) 5
b)
y 
 
−
x 6  
 