P

Prerequisites

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 Rational Exponents and
P.4
Radicals

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Objectives
► Radicals

► Rational Exponents

► Rationalizing the Denominator

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Radicals

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Radicals
We know what 2n means whenever n is an integer. To give
meaning to a power, such as 24/5, whose exponent is a
rational number, we need to discuss radicals.

The symbol means “the positive square root of.” Thus

= b means b2 = a and b  0

Since a = b2  0, the symbol makes sense only when

a  0. For instance,

=3 because 32 = 9 and 30

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Radicals
Square roots are special cases of nth roots. The nth root of
x is the number that, when raised to the nth power, gives x.

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Radicals

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Example 1 – Simplifying Expressions Involving nth Roots

(a) Factor out the largest cube

Property 1:

Property 4:

(b) Property 1:

Property 5,

Property 5:

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Example 2 – Combining Radicals
Factor out the largest squares

Property 1:

Distributive property

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Rational Exponents

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Rational Exponents
To define what is meant by a rational exponent or,
equivalently, a fractional exponent such as a1/3, we need to
use radicals. To give meaning to the symbol a1/n in a way
that is consistent with the Laws of Exponents, we would
have to have

(a1/n)n = a(1/n)n = a1 = a

So by the definition of nth root,

a1/n =

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Rational Exponents
In general, we define rational exponents as follows.

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Example 4 – Using the Laws of Exponents with Rational Exponents

(a) a1/3a7/3 = a8/3 Law 1: aman = am +n

(b) = a2/5 + 7/5 – 3/5 Law 1, Law 2:

= a6/5
Law 4: (abc)n = anbncn
(c) (2a3b4)3/2 = 23/2(a3)3/2(b4)3/2
Law 3: (am)n = amn
=( )3a3(3/2)b4(3/2)

=2 a9/2b6

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Example 4 – Using the Laws of Exponents with Rational Exponents
cont’d

(d) Laws 5, 4, and 7

Law 3

Law 1, Law 2

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Rationalizing the Denominator

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Rationalizing the Denominator
It is often useful to eliminate the radical in a denominator by
multiplying both numerator and denominator by an
appropriate expression. This procedure is called
rationalizing the denominator.

If the denominator is of the form , we multiply numerator

and denominator by . In doing this we multiply the given
quantity by 1, so we do not change its value. For instance,

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Rationalizing the Denominator
Note that the denominator in the last fraction contains no
radical. In general, if the denominator is of the form
with m < n, then multiplying the numerator and denominator

by will rationalize the denominator, because

(for a > 0)

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Example 6 – Rationalizing Denominators
Rationalize the denominator in each fraction.

(a)

(b)

(c)

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Example 6 – Solution

(a) Multiply by

(b) Multiply by

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Example 6 – Solution cont’d

(c) Multiply by

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