discuss this...algebra?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jennifer B
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Jennifer B

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Describe two laws of exponents and provide an example illustrating each law. Explain how to simplify your expression. How do the laws work with rational exponents? Provide the class with a third expression to simplify that includes rational (fractional) exponents.
 
(a^b)(a^c) = a^(b + c)

2^3 * 2^4 = 2^7 = 128
8 * 16 = 128

(a^b)^c = a^bc

(4^2)^3 = 4^6 = 4096
(16)^3 = 4096

The above laws work for rational exponents too.

2^1/2 / 2^3/2 = 2^(1/2 - 3/2) = 2^-1 = 1/2
sqrt2 / 2sqrt2 = 1/2
 
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