Rational Exponents

Evaluate a radical using number facts

For each new math fact that we calculate, we get at least one more math fact for free:

    \[5 \times 4 = 20\]

Gives us 20 \div 4 = 5 and 20 \div 5 = 4.

Similarly, we can calculate

    \[2^5=32\]

This gives us the related fact

    \[\sqrt[5]{32}=2\]

In this section, it is useful to recall common exponent facts in order to evaluate roots. Consider completing this Reference Sheet for Exponents. Refer to this sheet rather than a calculator for common values.

Roots and Exponents

Let’s compare what we know about roots and exponents. We know the exponent law that says a^m \times a^n =a^{m+n}. We also know that \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2}=1

We can write that:

    \[7^{\frac{1}{2}} \times 7^{\frac{1}{2}}=7^{(\frac{1}{2}+\frac{1}{2})}=7^1=7\]

.

Note that:

    \[\sqrt{7} \times \sqrt{7}=7\]

and

    \[7^{\frac{1}{2}} \times 7^{\frac{1}{2}}=7\]

In other words, 7^{\frac{1}{2}} and \sqrt{7} are the same number. You can type them both on your calculator and get the same answer.

Extending the idea, we have

    \[7^{\frac{1}{3}} \times 7^{\frac{1}{3}} \times 7^{\frac{1}{3}}= 7^1=7\]

In other words,

    \[7^{\frac{1}{3}}=\sqrt[3]{7}\]

And in general:

    \[7^{\frac{1}{n}}=\sqrt[n]{7}\]

Evaluate a fraction exponent that has a power and a root

Consider a number such as

    \[\big(\sqrt[3]{8}\big)^4\]

    \[\sqrt[3]{8}=2\]

    \[2^4=16\]

Therefore,

    \[\big(\sqrt[3]{8}\big)^4=16\]

Now, as an exponent, the cube root is the same as the exponent \frac{1}{3}, the first part reads:

    \[\sqrt[3]{8}=8^{\frac{1}{3}}\]

The second part is, ‘raise to the power 4’:

    \[\big(\sqrt[3]{8}\big)^4=\big(8^{\frac{1}{3}}\big)^4\]

The an exponent law that reminds us what do to here: \big(a^m\big)^n=a^{m \times n}. So we can write:

    \[\big(\sqrt[3]{8}\big)^4=\big(8^{\frac{1}{3}}\big)^4=8^{\frac{3}{4}}\]

When it comes to converting from root notation to exponent notation or vice versa:

Fraction exponents using radical or exponent notation

In general, as long as the base a is a positive number:

    \[{\sqrt[n]{a^m}=\Big(\sqrt[n]{a}\Big)^m=\left(a^{\frac{1}{n}}\right)^m=a^\frac{m}{n}}\]

Notation

The idea of powers and roots has been around for a very long time, but the way we write them down and communicate them has changed over the years. You can see from this table, called ‘the origins of some mathematical symbols‘ that the square root symbol, \sqrt{5} has been around since 1524; and exponents as we now use them showed up 100 years later, they have been around since 1637.

We now use both notations interchangeably, but one can note a preference for root notation in geometry and for exponent notation in calculus.

Evaluating fraction exponents

Generally, a fraction exponent leads to an irrational number. The answers to these examples are integers or rational numbers, and can be evaluated without using a calculator.

Example1:  16^{\frac{1}{2}}

What is the second (square) root of 16?  16^{\frac{1}{2}}=\sqrt{16}=4

Example 2a: 16^{\frac{1}{4}}

What is the fourth root of 16? \sqrt[4]{16}=? For the fourth root you can square root then square root again:

    \[16^{\frac{1}{4}}=\big(16^{\frac{1}{2}}\big)^{\frac{1}{2}}=4^{\frac{1}{2}}=2\]

Example 2b: 16^{\frac{3}{4}}

First, we need to know that 16^{\frac{1}{4}}=2.

This is how we handle it:

We know that \frac{3}{4}= \frac{1}{4} \times 3.

And we know that (a^m)^n=a^{m\times n}

This is why we can rewrite 16^{\frac{3}{4}} as \big(16^{\frac{1}{4}}\big)^3

In this form, we first evaluate the bracket from recall or the reference sheet then calculate the power:

    \[\big(16^{\frac{1}{4}}\big)^3=\big(2\big)^3=8\]

Alternatively, convert to root notation then compute: 16^{\frac{3}{4}}=\left(\sqrt[4]{16}\right)^3=(2)^3=8

Example 3: 125^{\frac{2}{3}}

We mean, take the cube root of 125 then square it.

    \begin{align*}125^{\frac{2}{3}} \\[10pt]&= \big(125^{\frac{1}{3}}\big)^2 \\[10pt]&= \big(5\big)^2\\[10pt]&=25\end{align*}

Example 4: 64^{\frac{3}{2}}

We mean, take the square root of 64 then cube.

    \begin{align*}64^{\frac{3}{2}} \\[10pt]&= \big(64^{\frac{1}{2}}\big)^3 \\[10pt]&= \big(8\big)^3\\[10pt]&=512\end{align*}

Example 5:4096^{\frac{1}{6}}

The reference sheet shows that 4^5=1024. Multiplying by 4 one more time gives 4096.

4096=4^6.

4096^{\frac{1}{6}}=4

Evaluate negative exponents

Division can be expressed using \div or by using a fraction or by using a negative exponent. A negative exponent does not make the value negative because dividing does not make a value negative.

1 divided by 7 can be written as:

    \[1 \div 7 = \frac{1}{7}=7^{-1}\]

Note that all of these are positive (all are equal to 0.142\dots). Generally the first thing we do with a negative exponent (which means ‘divide’) is to write it as a fraction.

Example 6: 2^{-3}

A negative exponent represents repeated division.

    \begin{align*}2^{-3}\\[10pt]&=1 \div 2^3\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{2^3}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{8}\end{align*}

Example 7: 25^{-\frac{3}{2}}

    \begin{align*}25^{-\frac{3}{2}}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{25^\frac{3}{2}}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{\big(25^\frac{1}{2}\big)^3}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{5^3}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{125}\end{align*}

Fractions with Negative Exponents

In examples 8, 9 and 10 we take a negative power of a fraction. To understand the process, you need to remember how to divide a fraction. Here’s a reminder:

    \begin{align*}\frac{3}{4}\div \frac{7}{11}\\[10pt]&=\frac{3}{4}\times\frac{11}{7} \\[10pt]&=\frac{33}{28}\end{align*}

Example 8: \Big(\frac{4}{5}\Big)^{-2}

Watch what happens to the fraction when there is a negative power.

    \begin{align*}\big(\frac{4}{5}\big)^{-2}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{\frac{4^2}{5^2}}\\[10pt]&=1\div \frac{4^2}{5^2}\\[10pt]&=\frac{1}{1}\times\frac{5^2}{4^2}\\[10pt]&=\frac{5^2}{4^2}\\[10pt]&=\frac{25}{16}\end{align*}

Notice that our original fraction flips when the exponent is negative. Let’s write that down in general:

In general,

    \[{\Big(\frac{a}{b}\Big)^{-n}=\Big(\frac{b}{a}\Big)^n}\]

Example 9: \Big(\frac{1000}{343}\Big)^{-\frac{1}{3}}

    \begin{align*}\Big(\frac{1000}{343}\Big)^{-\frac{1}{3}}\\[10pt]&=\Big(\frac{343}{1000}\Big)^{\frac{1}{3}}\\[10pt]&=\frac{343^{\frac{1}{3}}}{1000^{\frac{1}{3}}}=\frac{7}{10}\end{align*}

Example 10: \big(\frac{125}{8}\big)^{-\frac{2}{3}}

    \begin{align*}\Big(\frac{125}{8}\Big)^{-\frac{2}{3}}\\[10pt]&=\Big(\frac{8}{125}\Big)^{\frac{2}{3}}\\[10pt]&=\frac{8^{\frac{2}{3}}}{125^{\frac{2}{3}}}=\frac{4}{25}\end{align*}

Your turn:

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