5.

7 Rational Exponents
Fraction Exponents
Radical expression and Exponents
By definition of Radical Expression.

5  125 so
3 3
125  5
The index of the Radical is 3.
 How would we simplify this
expression?
What does the fraction exponent do to the
number?
1
2
9
The number can be written as a Radical
expression, with an index of the
denominator. 2
9
The Rule for Rational Exponents

1
b  b
n n

1
64  64  4
3 3
Write in Radical form

1
a 
6

1
m 
2
Write in Radical form

1
a  a
6 6

1
m  m
2
Write each Radical using Rational
Exponents

5
b

w
Write each Radical using Rational
Exponents

1
5
b b 5

1
ww 2
What about Negative exponents
Negative exponents make inverses.

1
1 1
49 2
 1

2
7
49
 What if the numerator is not 1
Evaluate
2
32  32
5 5 2
 What if the numerator is not 1
Evaluate 2
32  32
5 5 2

5
2 5 2
 2
5 10
 What if the numerator is not 1
Evaluate 2
32  32 5 5 2

5
2  5 2
 2
5 10

2 42
 For any nonzero real number b,
and integer m and n
Make sure the Radical express is real, no
b<0 when n is even.

 b
m
m
b  b or
n n m n
 Simplify each expression
No fraction in the denominators.

1 4
y y7 7

2
3
x
Simplify

1
6 6
16 16
3
 1
2
23
Simplify
1
6 6
16 16
3
 1
2
23

1 4
4 6 6
(2 ) 2
 1
 1
3 3
2 2
 Simplify
1
6 6
16 16
3
 1
2
23

1 4
4 6 6
(2 ) 2
 1
 1
3 3
2 2

2
3 2 1 1
2
 1
2 2 2 3 2
3 3 3

3
2
Simplify

6 4
4x
Simplify

1 4
6
4x4  4 x
6 6
Simplify

1 4
6
4x  4 x
4 6 6

 x
1 4
 2 2 6 6
Simplify

1 4
6
4x4  4 x 6 6

 
1 4
 2 2 6
x 6

2 4
2 x 6 6
Simplify
1 4
6
4x4  4 x 6 6

 
1 4
 2 2 6
x 6

2 4 1 2
2 x 2 x
6 6 3 3
Simplify
1 4
6
4x  4 x
4 6 6

 
1 4
 2 2 6
x 6

2 4 1 2
2 x 2 x
6 6 3 3

 
1
 2x 2 3
 3 2x2
Simplify

1
y 1
2

1
y 1
2
 Simplify

 12 
1  y  1
y 2  1  


1
 1

y  1  y  1
2 2
 
 
 Simplify

 12 
1  y  1 1 1
y 2  1   y1  y 2  y 2  1


1
 1
 y 1
1
y  1  y  1
2 2
 
 
 Simplify
 12 
1  y  1 1 1

y 2 1   y1  y 2  y 2  1
 1  
1
  y 1
1
y  1  y  1
2 2
 
 

1
y  2y 1
2

y 1
 Homework
Page 261 – 262
# 21 – 61 odd, 65
Homework

Page 261
# 22 – 62 even