Insights Blog
-- Browse All Articles --
Physics Articles
Physics Tutorials
Physics Guides
Physics FAQ
Math Articles
Math Tutorials
Math Guides
Math FAQ
Education Articles
Education Guides
Bio/Chem Articles
Technology Guides
Computer Science Tutorials
Forums
General Math
Calculus
Differential Equations
Topology and Analysis
Linear and Abstract Algebra
Differential Geometry
Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Trending
Featured Threads
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
General Math
Calculus
Differential Equations
Topology and Analysis
Linear and Abstract Algebra
Differential Geometry
Set Theory, Logic, Probability, Statistics
MATLAB, Maple, Mathematica, LaTeX
Menu
Log in
Register
Navigation
More options
Contact us
Close Menu
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Forums
Mathematics
General Math
Resolving index laws for fractional exponents
Reply to thread
Message
[QUOTE="Stephen Tashi, post: 6286196, member: 186655"] An underlying problem is that, in texts treating only the real numbers, ##a^r## is not defined for rational numbers ##r##. Instead, ##a^r## is defined in a way that depends on how the rational number ##r## is denoted. For example, consider ##r = 5/3 = 10/6 ##. Typical secondary school texts in the USA give the definition: Using this definition, students may be expected to compute ##(-1)^{\frac{5}{3}}## but they are expected to say that ##(-1)^{\frac{10}{6}}## does not exist - or perhaps the text avoids confusing the students by never asking for such a computation. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Post reply
Forums
Mathematics
General Math
Resolving index laws for fractional exponents
Back
Top