simplifying 169 to 1/2 power

mesiah

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Jun 3, 2008
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Please help show the proper steps to simplify 169to1/2power, I do not even know where to start, thank-you
 
Re: simplifying

The square root of 169 is a nice even integer. The square of 144 is 12. The square of 14 is 196.

What could it be?.
 
Re: simplifying

square root is 13, but what do I do with to the 1/2 power, does that play a role?
 
Re: simplifying

1/2 power is a square root. You're done. The answer is 13.
 
Re: simplifying

So if I have 100 to 3/2power, the square root is 10, would that be my final answer?
 
Re: simplifying

\(\displaystyle 169^{\frac{1}{2}}=\sqrt{169}=???\)

Find two whole numbers which when multiplied together = 169.

2 X 84.5 = 169 >>> 84.5 not whole. Won't work.
3 X 56.333... = 169 >>> won't work. All multiples of 3 won't work.
4 X >>>Since 2 won't work no multiple of 2 will work so 4 won't work.
5 X 33.8 >>> 5 and all multiples of 5 won't work.
6 is multiple of both 2 and 3 so won't work.
7 X 24.14... >>> 7 and all multiples of 7 wont' work.
8 is multiple of 2
9 is multiple of 3
10 is multiple of both 2 and 5.
11 X 15.36... >>> 11 and ll multiples of 11 won't work.
12 is multiple of both 2 and 3.
13 X 13 = 169. Ahaa!
Therefore \(\displaystyle \sqrt{169}=\sqrt{13\cdot 13}=??\)
The rest is up to you.

100 to 3/2power = \(\displaystyle 100^{\frac{3}{2}}=100^{\frac{2}{2}}\cdot 100^{\frac{1}{2}}=???\)
 
Re: simplifying

\(\displaystyle x^\frac{a}{b} = \sqrt{x^a}\)

Therefore \(\displaystyle 169^\frac{1}{2}=\sqrt[2]{169^1}=13\)

You don't usually use the index of 2. It's understood to be 2 without explicitly stating it. I just did that to illustrate the rule.
 
mesiah said:
...what do I do with to the 1/2 power...?
galactus said:
1/2 power is a square root.
mesiah said:
Thank-you, but I do not understand?
Erm... They were supposed to have covered exponents before assigning this sort of exercise. :shock:

To learn what fractional exponents are, and how they relate to radicals, try some online lessons to replace what your classroom lectures and your textbook skipped:

. . . . .Google results for "fractional exponent radical"

Have fun! :D

Eliz.
 
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