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- Prerequisites
- Radicals and rational exponents
Simplifying rational exponents
Simplify:
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Key concepts
- The principal square root of a number
is the nonnegative number that when multiplied by itself equals
See
[link] .
- If
and
are nonnegative, the square root of the product
is equal to the product of the square roots of
and
See
[link] and
[link] .
- If
and
are nonnegative, the square root of the quotient
is equal to the quotient of the square roots of
and
See
[link] and
[link] .
- We can add and subtract radical expressions if they have the same radicand and the same index. See
[link] and
[link] .
- Radical expressions written in simplest form do not contain a radical in the denominator. To eliminate the square root radical from the denominator, multiply both the numerator and the denominator by the conjugate of the denominator. See
[link] and
[link] .
- The principal
n th root of
is the number with the same sign as
that when raised to the
n th power equals
These roots have the same properties as square roots.
See
[link] .
- Radicals can be rewritten as rational exponents and rational exponents can be rewritten as radicals. See
[link] and
[link] .
- The properties of exponents apply to rational exponents. See
[link] .
Section exercises
Verbal
What does it mean when a radical does not have an index? Is the expression equal to the radicand? Explain.
When there is no index, it is assumed to be 2 or the square root. The expression would only be equal to the radicand if the index were 1.
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Numeric
For the following exercises, simplify each expression.
Algebraic
For the following exercises, simplify each expression.
Real-world applications
A guy wire for a suspension bridge runs from the ground diagonally to the top of the closest pylon to make a triangle. We can use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the length of guy wire needed. The square of the distance between the wire on the ground and the pylon on the ground is 90,000 feet. The square of the height of the pylon is 160,000 feet. So the length of the guy wire can be found by evaluating
What is the length of the guy wire?
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Extensions
For the following exercises, simplify each expression.
Questions & Answers
how does the planets on our solar system orbit
how many Messier objects are there in space
Astronomy (from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomía) 'science that studies the laws of the stars') is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution.
Rafael
what is big bang theory?
Rosemary
what type of activity astronomer do?
Rosemary
the big bang theory is a theory which states that all matter was compressed together in one place the matter got so unstable it exploded releasing All its contents in the form of hydrogen
Roaul
I want to be an astronomer. That's my dream
Astrit
Who named the the whole galaxy?
what is the dark matter
Richard
what are the factors upon which the atmosphere is stratified
bigbang is the beginning of the universe
Sokak
but thats just a theory
Sokak
nothing will happen, don't worry brother.
Vansh
these are Rocky substances between mars and jupiter
GANGAIN
Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases , rock and dust that orbit the sun. They are mostly found between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
Aarya
hey can anyone guide me abt international astronomy olympiad
sahil
how can we learn right and true ?
why the moon is always appear in an elliptical shape
Because when astroid hit the Earth then a piece of elliptical shape of the earth was separated which is now called moon.
Hemen
Did you mean eye sight or sea level
Minal
oh sorry it's sea level
lidiya
according to the theory of astronomers why the moon is always appear in an elliptical orbit?
Gatjuol
hi !!! I am new in astronomy....
I have so many questions in mind ....
all of scientists of the word they just give opinion only.
but they never think true or false ...
i respect all of them...
I believes whole universe depending
on true ...থিউরি
Govinda
we're all stars and galaxies a part of sun. how can science prove thx with respect old ancient times picture or books..or anything with respect to present time .but we r a part of that universe
w astronomy and cosmology!
Michele
another theory of universe except big ban
there many theory to born universe but what is the reality of big bang theory to born universe
Asmit
what is the exact value of π?
Nagalakshmi
there are many theories regarding this it's on you believe any theory that you think is true ex. eternal inflation theory, oscillation model theory, multiple universe theory the big bang theory etc.
Aarya
I think after Big Bang!
Michele
from where on earth could u observe all the stars during the during the course of an year
I think it couldn't possible on earth
Nagalakshmi
in this time i don't Know
Michele
is that so. the question was in the end of this chapter
Karuna
in theory, you could see them all from the equator (though over the course of a year, not at pne time). stars are measured in "declination", which is how far N or S of the equator (90* to -90*). Polaris is the North star, and is ALMOST 90* (+89*).
So it would just barely creep over the horizon.
Christopher
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Source:
OpenStax, Algebra and trigonometry. OpenStax CNX. Nov 14, 2016 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11758/1.6
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