Simplified Radical Form with square and cubed roots

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges of simplifying radicals using the Ti-nspire Cx CAS calculator, particularly when dealing with variables and exponents. Participants share their experiences and seek advice on settings that may affect the calculator's output.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses difficulty in getting the calculator to simplify the radical expression correctly, suspecting that the settings may be incorrect.
  • Another participant points out the ambiguity in the expression √68x2y, suggesting that it could be interpreted in multiple ways, which may affect the output.
  • A participant clarifies that the expression being worked with is actually √(64x^5y) and explains the reasoning behind the expected simplification to 8x^2√xy.
  • There are suggestions that using parentheses when entering expressions might resolve the simplification issue, as it clarifies the intended grouping of terms.
  • One participant mentions the importance of setting the calculation mode to CAS for proper simplification of radicals.
  • Another participant shares a link to documentation that may help clarify the settings and usage of the calculator.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the correct settings or methods to achieve the desired simplification, as multiple interpretations and suggestions are presented without a definitive resolution.

Contextual Notes

There is uncertainty regarding the correct input format for the calculator, and participants highlight the potential impact of different settings on the output. The discussion also reflects varying levels of familiarity with the calculator's functions.

dmnalgebra
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I just got a new Ti-nspire Cx CAS calculator and I am having trouble with being able to express a Radical in simplified form when there are exponents and variables of x and y. My problem is that this calculator will not show the simplified form correctly. I have taken others advice in setting the calculator to exact mode but I suspect that the other settings in this same area are wrong.

I currently have the settings at: Display Digits-Float 6, Angle-Degree, Exponential Format-Normal, Real or Complex-Real, Calculation Mode-Exact, Vector Format-Rectangular, Base-Decimal, Unit system-Eng/US.

Does anyone know what all of the settings should be? Any advice would be helpful at this point.

Example issue is that when I enter:
√68x2y I get 8√x5y and the correct answer is 8x2√xy and incase my typed questions are confusing, the x2, x5, x2 - the 2,5,2 are exponents.

Thanks
 
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dmnalgebra said:
I just got a new Ti-nspire Cx CAS calculator and I am having trouble with being able to express a Radical in simplified form when there are exponents and variables of x and y. My problem is that this calculator will not show the simplified form correctly. I have taken others advice in setting the calculator to exact mode but I suspect that the other settings in this same area are wrong.

I currently have the settings at: Display Digits-Float 6, Angle-Degree, Exponential Format-Normal, Real or Complex-Real, Calculation Mode-Exact, Vector Format-Rectangular, Base-Decimal, Unit system-Eng/US.

Does anyone know what all of the settings should be? Any advice would be helpful at this point.

Example issue is that when I enter:
√68x2y I get 8√x5y and the correct answer is 8x2√xy and incase my typed questions are confusing, the x2, x5, x2 - the 2,5,2 are exponents.
That's not all that's confusing. One way to indicate exponents here at Physics Forums is to use the caret character ^. So x^2 represents the square of x, and so on.

With √68x2y, it's not clear what is under the radical.

This looks to me like √6 ##\cdot## 8x2 ##\cdot## y, but it could also be √(68) ##\cdot## x2 ##\cdot## y, or any of several other possibilities.

Since your answers come out with 8 and some other factors, the number must be 64, not 68 as you show.

If this is the expression you're working with -- √(64x^2 y)-- , then you should end up with 8x √y.
 
Thanks for the reply.
The problem that I'm working with is actually √(64x^5 y) and the correct answer is 8x^2√xy
I realize that 8(8) is 64 and that I have to borrow one from five and show the square root of four, which is two, leaving a remainder of one, thus the reason for 8x^2√xy but my calculator will not show the correct answer.

Sorry about the confusion. I am new at this calculator. Can you tell me why the Ti-nspire Cx CAS will not simplify it showing the correct answer?
 
dmnalgebra said:
Thanks for the reply.
The problem that I'm working with is actually √(64x^5 y) and the correct answer is 8x^2√xy
This really should be 8x^2√(xy), with the parentheses used to show that the square root is of the product xy, not just x.
dmnalgebra said:
I realize that 8(8) is 64 and that I have to borrow one from five and show the square root of four, which is two, leaving a remainder of one, thus the reason for 8x^2√xy but my calculator will not show the correct answer.
I'm guessing that you might not be using parentheses when you enter the expression. I don't have one of these calculators, so I can't say for sure.

If you enter √(64x^5y) it should produce 8x^2√(xy).

There's also the documentation - see http://education.ti.com/en/us/guide...-2?download=C6122E595FF249B481A8287926B59C1E#.
dmnalgebra said:
Sorry about the confusion. I am new at this calculator. Can you tell me why the Ti-nspire Cx CAS will not simplify it showing the correct answer?
 
I tried it with parentheses and it produces 8√x^5y and it should produce 8x^2√xy
I wish I could figure this out. It can't be that hard. If anyone reads this and knows how to get the Ti-nspire CX CAS to do this, please let me know. Thanks
 

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