Chapter 0: Problem 31
Simplify each expression. Assume that all variables are positive when they appear. $$\sqrt[4]{162 x^{9} y^{12}}$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
\root4{162 x^9 y^{12}} = 3 x^{\frac{9}{4}} y^3 \root4 {2}
Step by step solution
01
- Break Down the Radicand
First, break down the radicand (the expression under the radical) into its prime factors and simplify the variables. Here, we have:\( 162x^9y^{12} \).
02
- Simplify the Numerical Part
Prime factorize 162. The factorization is:\( 162 = 2 \times 3^4 \). So, the expression with numerical part simplified is:\( \root4 (2 \times 3^4)\times x^9 \times y^{12} \).
03
- Consider the Variable Part
Simplify the variable parts for the fourth root. Write the expression as:\( \root4 (2 \times 3^4 \times x^9 \times y^{12}) \).
04
- Apply the Fourth Root
Take the fourth root of each part separately. We may consider: the fourth root of 2 is \( \root4{2}\), then \( 3^4 \times \root4{} = 3\), \( (x^9)^\root4{} = x^{\frac{9}{4}}\), and \( (y^{12})^\root4{} = y^3 \). Combine these results to get:\( 3 x^{\frac{9}{4}} y^3 \)
05
- Combine Results
Finally, combine the simplified parts to get:\( \root4{162 x^9 y^{12}} = 3 x^{\frac{9}{4}} y^3 \root4 {2} \).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Prime Factorization
Prime factorization is the process of breaking down a number into its basic building blocks, which are prime numbers. A prime number is a number that has no other factors besides 1 and itself. For example:
- The prime factorization of 12 is \(12 = 2^2 \times 3\).
- In our exercise, the prime factorization of 162 is \(162 = 2 \times 3^4\).
Variable Exponents
Exponents represent repeated multiplication of the same number or variable. When working with expressions that have variables with exponents, remember these rules:
- Multiplying variables with the same base: \(x^a \times x^b = x^{a+b}\).
- Dividing variables with the same base: \(x^a \div x^b = x^{a-b}\).
- Raising a power to a power: \((x^a)^b = x^{a\cdot b}\).
Fourth Root
The fourth root of a number is a value that, when multiplied by itself four times, gives the original number. For example, the fourth root of 16 is 2, because \(2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2 = 16\). In notation, it is represented as \(\root4{}\).
In the given exercise, we find the fourth root of \(162 x^9 y^{12}\). We can simplify the problem by breaking down the number and variable parts separately:
In the given exercise, we find the fourth root of \(162 x^9 y^{12}\). We can simplify the problem by breaking down the number and variable parts separately:
- For the numerical part, \(162 = 2 \times 3^4\).
- For the variable part, \(x^9 = (x^9)^{\frac{1}{4}} = x^{\frac{9}{4}}\) and \(y^{12} = (y^{12})^{\frac{1}{4}} = y^3\).
Expression Simplification
Simplifying an expression involves reducing it to its simplest form. In our problem, we started with \(\root4{162 x^9 y^{12}}\). Here are the steps to simplify:
- Factor the numerical part: \(162 = 2 \times 3^4\).
- Break down the variable exponents: \(x^9 = x^{\frac{9}{4}}\) and \(y^{12} = y^3\).
- Apply the fourth root separately to each part: the fourth root of \((3^4)\) is 3, and the fourth root of \(2\) remains \(\root4{2}\).
- Combine the simplified parts: \(3 x^{\frac{9}{4}} y^3 \root4{2}\).