Category: Powers and Exponents
Fractional (Rational) Exponents
Fractional exponent is a natural extension to the integer exponent.
We already know, that if `b` is positive integer, then
- $$$a^b=\underbrace{a \cdot a \cdot a \cdot...\cdot a}_{b}$$$ (see positive exponent)
- $$$a^{-b}=\frac{1}{a^b}=\frac{1}{\underbrace{a \cdot a \cdot a \cdot...\cdot a}_{b}}$$$ (see negative exponets)
But what if exponent is a fraction?
Adding Exponents
To understand addition of exponents, let's start from a simple example.
Example. Suppose, we want to find `2^3*2^4`.
We already learned about positive integer exponets, so we can write, that `2^3=2*2*2` and `2^4=2*2*2*2`.
Subtracting Exponents
To understand subtraction of exponents, let's start from a simple example.
Example. Suppose, we want to find `(2^7)/(2^4)`.
We already learned about positive integer exponets, so we can write, that `2^7=2*2*2*2*2*2*2` and `2^4=2*2*2*2`.
Multiplying Exponents
To understand multiplication of exponents, let's start from a simple example.
Example. Suppose, we want to find `(2^3)^4`.
We already learned about positive integer exponets, so we can rewrite outer exponent: `(2^3)^4=2^3*2^3*2^3*2^3`.
Dividing Exponents
We already saw division of exponents two times:
- when discussed fractional exponents (`a^(m/n)=root(n)(a^m)`)
- when discussed multiplication of exponents (indeed, `a^(m/n)=a^(m*1/n)=(a^m)^(1/n)=root(n)(a^m)`).
Rule for dividing exponents: `huge color(purple)(root(n)(a^m)=a^(m/n))`.
Properties of Exponents (Rules)
Properties (rules) of exponents:
- Zero power: `a^0=1`, `a!=0`
- Zero base: `0^a=0`, `a!=0`
- `0^0` is undefined
- `1^a=1`
- Negative exponent: `a^(-b)=1/a^b`, `b!=0`
- Nth root: `a^(1/n)=root(n)(a)`, `n!=0`
- Addition of exponents: `a^m*a^n=a^(m+n)`
- Subtraction of exponents: `(a^m)/(a^n)=a^(m-n)`, `a!=0`
- Multiplication of exponents: `(a^m)^n=a^(m*n)=(a^n)^m`
- Division of exponents: `root(n)(a^m)=a^(m/n)`, `n!=0`
- `root(m)(a^m)=a`, if `m` is odd
- `root(m)(a^m)=|a|`, if `m` is even
- `root(n)(a^m)=(root(n)(a))^m` (just pay attention to signs and check, whether number exists)
- Power of a product: `a^n*b^n=(ab)^n`
- Power of a quotient: `(a^n)/(b^n)=(a/b)^n`, `b!=0`
We already covered all rules earlier, except last two.