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how do I know what exponent and base I use when I simplify an exponent, for example, 16^1/4 become (2^4)^1/4 which becomes 2. How do I know I have to use 2^4 instead of another number like 4^2 that is still equal to 16. Why can't I use a different number that is equal to the same thing?

Sagot :

Answer:

Reason:

16^1/4=(2^4)^1/4

Explanation:

You can use either 4^2 or 2^4 both gives the same answer.

In order to simplify the steps we use 2^4.

we get,

[tex]16^{\frac{1}{4}^{}^{}}=(2^4)^{\frac{1}{4}}[/tex][tex]=2^{4\times\frac{1}{4}}[/tex]

4 in the power got cancelled and we get,

[tex]=2[/tex]

Alternate method:

If we use 4^2 we get,

[tex]16^{\frac{1}{4}}=(4^2)^{\frac{1}{4}}[/tex][tex]=4^{2\times\frac{1}{4}}[/tex][tex]=4^{\frac{1}{2}}[/tex]

we use 4=2^2,

[tex]=(2^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}=2[/tex]

In order to get answer quicker we appropiately use 2^4=16 here.

Rules in exponent:

[tex]a^n\times a^m=a^{n+m}[/tex][tex]\frac{a^n}{a^m}=a^{n-m}[/tex][tex]\frac{1}{a^m}=a^{-m}[/tex][tex](a^n)^m=a^{n\times m}[/tex][tex]4^{3\times\frac{1}{2}}=4^{\frac{3}{2}}[/tex]

use 4=2^2, we get

[tex]=2^{2\times\frac{3}{2}}[/tex]

2 got cancelled in the power, we get

[tex]=2^3[/tex][tex]=8[/tex]

we get,

[tex]4^{3\times\frac{1}{2}}=8[/tex]