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Systems of Equations
Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions with Different Denominators
Graphing Linear Equations
Raising an Exponential Expression to a Power
Horizontal Line Test
Quadratic Equations
Mixed Numbers and Improper Fractions
Solving Quadratic Equations by Completing the Square
Solving Exponential Equations
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Factorizing simple expressions
Identifying Prime and Composite Numbers
Solving Linear Systems of Equations by Graphing
Complex Conjugates
Graphing Compound Inequalities
Simplified Form of a Square Root
Solving Quadratic Equations Using the Square Root Property
Multiplication Property of Radicals
Determining if a Function has an Inverse
Scientific Notation
Degree of a Polynomial
Factoring Polynomials by Grouping
Solving Linear Systems of Equations
Exponential Functions
Factoring Trinomials by Grouping
The Slope of a Line
Simplifying Complex Fractions That Contain Addition or Subtraction
Solving Absolute Value Equations
Solving Right Triangles
Solving Rational Inequalities with a Sign Graph
Domain and Range of a Function
Multiplying Polynomials
Slope of a Line
Inequalities
Multiplying Rational Expressions
Percent of Change
Equations Involving Fractions or Decimals
Simplifying Expressions Containing only Monomials
Solving Inequalities
Quadratic Equations with Imaginary Solutions
Reducing Fractions to Lowest Terms
Prime and Composite Numbers
Dividing with Exponents
Dividing Rational Expressions
Equivalent Fractions
Graphing Quadratic Functions
Polynomials
Linear Equations and Inequalities in One Variable
Notes on the Difference of 2 Squares
Solving Absolute Value Inequalities
Solving Quadratic Equations
Factoring Polynomials Completely
Using Slopes to Graph Lines
Fractions, Decimals and Percents
Solving Systems of Equations by Substitution
Quotient Rule for Radicals
Prime Polynomials
Solving Nonlinear Equations by Substitution
Simplifying Radical Expressions Containing One Term
Factoring a Sum or Difference of Two Cubes
Finding the Least Common Denominator of Rational Expressions
Conjugates
Multiplying Rational Expressions
Expansion of a Product of Binomials
Solving Equations
Exponential Growth
Factoring by Grouping
Solving One-Step Equations Using Models
Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
Rationalizing the Denominator
Rounding Off
The Distributive Property
What is a Quadratic Equation
Laws of Exponents and Multiplying Monomials
The Slope of a Line
Factoring Trinomials by Grouping
Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions
Solving Linear Inequalities
Multiplication Property of Exponents
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions 3
Formulas
Dividing Monomials
Multiplying Polynomials
Adding and Subtracting Functions
Dividing Polynomials
Absolute Value and Distance
Multiplication and Division with Mixed Numbers
Factoring a Polynomial by Finding the GCF
Roots
Adding and Subtracting Polynomials
The Rectangular Coordinate System
Polar Form of a Complex Number
Exponents and Order of Operations
Graphing Horizontal and Vertical Lines
Invariants Under Rotation
The Addition Method
Solving Linear Inequalities in One Variable
The Pythagorean Theorem
 
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Roots

For even values of n , the expression is defined to be the positive nth root of a or the principal nth root of a. For example, denotes the positive second root, or square root, of a , while is the positive fourth root of a. When n is odd, there is only one n th root, which has the same sign as a. For example, , the cube root of a, has the same sign as a. By definition, if then . On a calculator, a number is raised to a power using a key labeled For example, to take the fourth root of 6 on a TI-83 calculator, enter , to get the result 1.56508458.

EXAMPLE 1

Calculations with Exponents

Rational Exponents

In the following definition, the domain of an exponent is extended to include all rational numbers.

DEFINITION OF

For all real numbers a for which the indicated roots exist, and for any rational number m/n

EXAMPLE 2

Calculations with Exponents

NOTE could also be evaluated as but this is more difficult to perform without a calculator because it involves squaring 27, and then taking thecube root of this large number. On the other hand, when we evaluate it as we know that the cube root of 27 is 3 without using a calculator, and squaring 3 is easy.

All the properties for integer exponents given in this section also apply to any rational exponent on a nonnegative real-number base.

EXAMPLE 3

Simplifying Exponential Expressions

In calculus, it is often necessary to factor expressions involving fractional exponents.

EXAMPLE 4

Simplifying Exponential Expressions

Factor out the smallest power of the variable, assuming all variables represent positive real numbers.

Solution

To check this result, multiply by

Solution

The smallest exponent here is 3. Since 3 is a common numerical factor, factor out

Check by multiplying. The factored form can be written without negative exponents as

.

Solution

There is a common factor of 2. Also, have a common factor. Always factor out the quantity to the smallest exponent. Here -1/2 < 1/2 so the common factor is and the factored form is

 
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