The Purplemath Forums

by **mskwared** on Sat Jul 12, 2014 4:00 pm

I am having a hard time figuring this out! Can someone please help explain it to me? I think I am making it harder than it needs to be, but I am just not getting it. I am to "simplify and compare equivalent expressions written both in radical form and with rational (fractional) exponents". Thank you so much in advance!

My problems are:

9^1/4 divided by 9^3/4

and

(2a^1/2 divided by b^1/3) all ^2

**Sponsor**

by **stapel_eliz** on Sun Jul 13, 2014 5:14 pm

mskwared wrote:..."simplify and compare equivalent expressions written both in radical form and with rational (fractional) exponents".

1. 9^1/4 divided by 9^3/4

This means:

. . . . . $\frac{\left(\frac{9^1}{4}\right)}{\left(\frac{9^3}{4}\right)}$

However, I suspect that you mean this:

. . . . . $\frac { 9^{ \left( \frac{1}{4} \right) } } { 9^{ \left( \frac{3}{4} \right) } }$

Kindly please reply with confirmation or correction. For information on formatting, try here. Lessons are also available regarding fractional exponents and simplifying with exponents.

mskwared wrote:2. (2a^1/2 divided by b^1/3) all ^2

Same question here. When you reply, please include a clear listing of your efforts so far. Thank you! :wink: