Confused about Maths Problems? Get Help and Hints Here!

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around various mathematics problems, including simplifying expressions with rational exponents, rewriting expressions with positive exponents, and finding the domain of a function. Participants express confusion regarding the language and concepts involved in these problems.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Mathematical reasoning

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants attempt to rewrite expressions in different forms, question how to handle negative exponents, and explore the implications of domain restrictions for functions. Some express uncertainty about the questions' requirements and seek clarification on specific mathematical concepts.

Discussion Status

Several participants have provided hints and guidance on how to approach the problems, particularly in rewriting expressions and understanding domain issues. There is an ongoing exploration of different interpretations of the problems, but no explicit consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Some participants note the importance of the field of numbers being considered (real vs. complex) when discussing domains of functions. There is also mention of a test deadline, which adds urgency to the discussion.

Bin Qasim
Hello

I need some help with some maths problems. Actually I am sort of of confused.

My Questions:
1. Rewrite without rational exponents, and simplify, if possible.
a. y^(1/7)... I am so confused what it is about. I mean I can't do anything with the expressions, can I?
b. (x^2.y^2)^(1/3)... kinda of similar to above one but wat am I supposed to do with expression...

2. Rewrite with positive exponents.
a. y^(-1/7)... Am I supposed to just change the sign of power to +ve??

3. Use rational exponents to simplify. Write the answer in radical notation if appropriate.
a. (a^2)^(6)... :confused:

4. Find domain of f(x)= (x+5)^(1/2). (x+7)^(-1/2) hints badly needed...

I have test tomm so pls reply ASAP. Don't solve it right away but provide me with hints pls.

:smile:
 
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Sounds like you have difficulty with the language used which will keep you from even starting the problems really.

1a. y^(1/7) is the same as writing the 7th root of y so.. write the 7th root of y a different way.
b. same thing basically as a
2. y^-x = 1/(y^x) right?
3. more power rules. How would you combine the 2 and the 6?
4. Not sure what the "." stands for, but assuming it's multiplication.. simply find the values of x that will result in an imaginary answer. for example, f(-6) is not in the domain.
 
Well, I am not too sure exactly what the question is asking, and what context it is in but I would say that for the first question it is asking you to write it in surd form.

So for 1) a)

[tex]y^{\frac{1}{7}} = \sqrt[7]{y}[/tex]

1)b)

[tex](x^2y^2)^{\frac{1}{3}} = x^{\frac{2}{3}}y^{\frac{2}{3}} = (xy)^{\frac{2}{3}} = \sqrt[3]{xy}^2[/tex]

2)

[tex]y^{-1/7} = \frac{1}{y^{1/7}}[/tex]

3) I don't exactly get the question? There is not much else you can do with this type of question.

[tex](a^2)^6 = a^{12}[/tex]

4) We have

[tex]f(x) = \frac{\sqrt{x+5}}{\sqrt{x+7}}[/tex]

As x approaches -7 from [itex]\infty^-[/itex] it hits an asymptote. So [itex]x\neq -7[/itex] otherwise the denominator is zero. Also, [itex]x \notin (-7,-5)[/itex]. x cannot exist in this interval because

[tex]f(-7) = \frac{\sqrt{-2}}{\sqrt{0}}[/tex] does not exist

[tex]f(-6) = \frac{\sqrt{-1}}{\sqrt{1}} = i \notin \mathbb{R}[/tex]

[tex]f(-5.5) = \frac{\sqrt{-1/2}}{\sqrt{1.5}} = \frac{i}{3}\sqrt{3} \notin \mathbb{R}[/tex]

[tex]f(-5) = 0[/tex]

Hence the domain of [itex]f(x)[/itex] is

[tex]f(x) = (-\infty, -7) \cup (-5,\infty)[/tex]

or

[tex]f(x) \backslash (-7,-5)[/tex]
 
Last edited:
Thanx guys

my bad vsage... misunderstood it I guess...

thanx for help guys, vsage and oxymoron... :smile:

and yeah the third Q is:

Use rational exponents to simplify. Write the answer in radical notation if appropriate.

a^(2/6)

so pls tell me what I am supposed to do ... thanks :smile:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well, to write in radical notation is to write in surd form (with square roots).

So

[tex]a^{\frac{2}{6}} = \sqrt[6]{a}^2[/tex]

By the way, I am using the surd formula:

[tex]x^{\frac{y}{z}} = \sqrt[z]{x}^y[/tex]
 
Also note that with your 4th question, when regarding domains of functions, you must note what field you are working in.

When I did the question I assumed you were working with real numbers.

But if you were working with complex numbers, obviously the function is defined for all [itex]z\in\mathbb{C}\backslash\{-7\}[/tex].[/itex]
 
Thanx oxy and vsage that helped me...

I did my test hope to get an A :smile:

Just one more Q is:

log(x-1)/log(3)= [log(x-2)/log3]-[log(x)/log(3)]

evaluate or simplify the above expression...

thanx very much appreciated...
 
in your last post Bin Qasim, you say evaluate or simplify. Well, you can't evalute what you have written but you can simplify. This is just a matter of remembering your logarithm laws...

[tex]\frac{\log (x-1)}{\log 3} = \frac{\log (x-2)}{\log 3} - \frac{\log x}{\log 3}[/tex]

[tex]\frac{\log (x-1)}{\log 3} = \frac{\log (x-2) - \log x}{\log 3}[/tex]

However, this should not be an equality since the LHS never equals the RHS. Are you sure there isn't more to this question?
 
U right oxy, it was to solve for x i forgot that

and one more thing, I go an A in the taht test, I owe u guys for helping me :smile:
 

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