Powers w/Rational Exponents: Evaluate (Review My Work)

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on evaluating expressions with rational exponents. In part a, the calculation of (-32)^3/5 x (-32)^-4/5 / (-32)^2/5 leads to the result of -32^-3/5, which simplifies to -1/8, though there is uncertainty about this result. In part b, the initial expression was miswritten, but after correction, it simplifies to 4096^11/12, which is confirmed as correct. Participants suggest using parentheses for clarity and mention that 4096^(1/12) simplifies to 2. The conversation emphasizes the importance of accurate notation and simplification techniques in working with exponents.
calcdummy
Messages
11
Reaction score
0

Homework Statement


Write as a single power, then evaluate:
a) (-32)^3/5 x (-32)^-4/5 / (-32)^2/5


b) 4096^3/6 / 4096^2/3 x 4096^5/6

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution



a) (-32)^3/5 x (-32)^-4/5 / (-32)^2/5
= (-32)^3/5+(-4/5)-2/5
= -32^-3/5
= -1/8 <- not sure about this

b) 4096^3/6 / 4096^2/3 x 4096^5/6
= 4096^(9-8+10)/12
= 4096^11/12

I'm not so sure of where to go from here.
 
Physics news on Phys.org


Your first answer is right :-)

Second needs some review.

Remember (x^a*x^b)/(x^c*x^d)

Is x^(a+b-c-d)

So its 4096^(3/6-2/3-5/6)


You have made a mistake by writing 4096^({9}-8-10)/12

It shouldn't be 9 in the curly brackets i put{} :-).

Also factorise 4096.
Write it in power of primes.

For eg 400=2^4*5^2

So (400)^(1/2)

Is
[(2^4)*(5^2)]^(1/2)

So its (2^2)*(5) which gives 20.
 
Last edited:


Oh man I copied down the wrong problem. I'm so sorry. It was supposed to be:
4096^3/4 / 4096^2/3 x 4096^5/6
I got the common denominator which would been 12. That is how I got 4096^(9-8+10)/12
= 4096^11/12

am I still incorrect?
 


calcdummy said:
Oh man I copied down the wrong problem. I'm so sorry. It was supposed to be:
4096^3/4 / 4096^2/3 x 4096^5/6
I got the common denominator which would been 12. That is how I got 4096^(9-8+10)/12
= 4096^11/12

am I still incorrect?

You should probably use parentheses instead of spaces to make that clearer. If you mean (4096^(3/4)/4096^(2/3))*4096^(5/6) then 4096^(11/12) is correct. There's a much simpler way to express that answer. 4096^(1/12)=2.
 
I tried to combine those 2 formulas but it didn't work. I tried using another case where there are 2 red balls and 2 blue balls only so when combining the formula I got ##\frac{(4-1)!}{2!2!}=\frac{3}{2}## which does not make sense. Is there any formula to calculate cyclic permutation of identical objects or I have to do it by listing all the possibilities? Thanks
Since ##px^9+q## is the factor, then ##x^9=\frac{-q}{p}## will be one of the roots. Let ##f(x)=27x^{18}+bx^9+70##, then: $$27\left(\frac{-q}{p}\right)^2+b\left(\frac{-q}{p}\right)+70=0$$ $$b=27 \frac{q}{p}+70 \frac{p}{q}$$ $$b=\frac{27q^2+70p^2}{pq}$$ From this expression, it looks like there is no greatest value of ##b## because increasing the value of ##p## and ##q## will also increase the value of ##b##. How to find the greatest value of ##b##? Thanks
Back
Top