Chapter 5

•Transforming Rational Exponents to

Radical Form
•Product and Quotient of Radicals with
Different Indices
•Radicals within Radicals
•Generalized Power Rule for Rational
Exponents
Rational Exponents
- In other words, exponents that are
fractions.
We defined a1/n as the nth root of a.
So, am/n is defined as the mth power of
the nth root of a. Rational exponent
indicate both a root and a power. Laws
of exponents are also applied in
simplifying expressions with fractional
or rational exponents.
Examples:
1

1. 36 
2 36  6
1

2. 64 
3
3
64  4
Transforming Rational Exponents
to Radical Form
x is a real
number and
should not be
negative when
b is even
because it is
undefined.
Fractional form Radical Form

 27
4
4
27  27 
3 3 4 3
A negative rational exponent indicates
reciprocal just as a negative integral exponent
does. So,
Supply the Radical Form and
simplify
3

 36
3
  6 216
2 3
1. 36
4

 27
4
  3  81
3 3 4
2. 27
3

 81
3
  3  27
4 4 3
3. 81
Product of Radicals with Different
Indices
1.Radicals must have the same
index number. It can be obtained
by getting the Least Common
Index (Denominator).
Product of Radicals with
Different Indices
2. If radicands are the same, copy it and add
the exponents. If not, simplify the exponents
first before multiplying. Don’t forget to
simplify your answer.
Quotient of Radicals with Different
Indices
1. Radicals must have the same index number.
It can be obtained by getting the Least
Common Index (Denominator).
Ex.
Quotient of Radicals with
Different Indices
2. If radicands are the same, copy it and subtract the
exponents. If not, simplify the exponents first before
dividing.
Ex.
Quotient of Radicals with Different
Indices
3. Simplify your answer.
Ex.
Radicals within Radicals
What are you going to do when you encounter equation
like these?
Radicals within Radicals
To change the index into one, we simply multiply the
indices of the radicals.
Solution:
Generalized Power Rule for
Rational Exponents
This also applies the rules we learned in the Laws of
Exponents. Thus, exponents are in fractional form.

The rules of exponents

An exponent may now be any rational number. Rational
exponents u, v will obey the usual rules.
Generalized Power Rule for
Rational Exponents
Generalized Power Rule for
Rational Exponents
Rewrite in exponential form, and apply the rules.
Example:
Generalized Power Rule for
Rational Exponents
Examples:
Thank You and God bless! 