Simplify:
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
.
Solution
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
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Use the laws of exponents to simplify expressions with rational exponents
The same laws of exponents that we already used apply to rational exponents, too. We will list the Exponent Properties here to have them for reference as we simplify expressions.
Summary of exponent properties
If
are real numbers and
are rational numbers, then
When we multiply the same base, we add the exponents.
Simplify:
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
.
Solution
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
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We will use the Power Property in the next example.
Simplify:
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
.
Solution
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
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The Quotient Property tells us that when we divide with the same base, we subtract the exponents.
Simplify:
ⓐ
ⓑ
ⓒ
.
Solution
-
ⓐ
-
ⓑ
-
ⓒ
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Sometimes we need to use more than one property. In the next two examples, we will use both the Product to a Power Property and then the Power Property.
Simplify:
ⓐ
ⓑ
.
Solution
-
ⓐ
-
ⓑ
Got questions? Get instant answers now! Got questions? Get instant answers now!