In the second week of Pre-Calculus 11, we focused on applying the exponent laws and order of operations to mixed and entire radicals. I learned how to rewrite radicals as fractional exponents, and vice versa. The rule is as follows:
In the following example, the numerator of the fractional exponent is 5. In the radical expression, it becomes the power of the radicand, which is ∛27. The dominator becomes the index of the root.
To rewrite a radical using a fractional exponent, the power to which the radicand is raised becomes the numerator and the index of the root becomes the denominator. In Question 8c, 3 becomes the numerator and 5 becomes the denominator of the fractional exponent.
Some equations looked overwhelming, but once I applied the exponent laws, the positive and negative rational exponents, and order of operation (BEDMAS), I was able to solve it.
B = brackets
E = exponents
D = division
M = multiplication
A = addition
S = subtraction
Here is an example of a question with which I struggled at first. Once I used BEDMAS, I was able to break the components down and solve it. It is important to watch out for the negative rational exponents!
