Chapter 5: Problem 33
Simplify each numerical expression. \(\frac{3^{3}}{3^{-1}}\)
Short Answer
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Step by step solution
01
Understand the Expression
The given expression is \( \frac{3^3}{3^{-1}} \). Our task is to simplify this expression using the properties of exponents.
02
Apply the Quotient Rule for Exponents
The quotient rule for exponents states that \( \frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n} \). Applying this rule, we have \( \frac{3^3}{3^{-1}} = 3^{3 - (-1)} \).
03
Simplify the Exponent
Subtracting the exponents gives us \( 3^{3 + 1} \), since subtracting \(-1\) is the same as adding \(+1\). This simplifies to \( 3^4 \).
04
Calculate the Final Result of the Exponentiation
Finally, calculate \( 3^4 \), which means multiplying \(3\) by itself four times: \(3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3 = 81\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Quotient Rule for Exponents
When you're working with exponents, the quotient rule is a handy tool. This is especially true when you have the same base in both the numerator and denominator. According to the quotient rule,
- if you have a fraction with an exponent in the numerator and an exponent in the denominator, like \( \frac{a^m}{a^n} \), you can simplify by subtracting the exponent in the denominator from the exponent in the numerator: \( a^{m-n} \).
- This rule is only applicable when the bases are the same, such as \( 3^3 \) and \( 3^{-1} \) in our original expression.
- When applying this rule to the example \( \frac{3^3}{3^{-1}} \), you should subtract \(-1\) from \(3\), giving you \(3^{3 - (-1)} = 3^{3 + 1}\).
Simplifying Expressions
Simplification in math is all about making expressions easier to work with, without changing their value. When you're simplifying an expression like \( \frac{3^3}{3^{-1}} \), you're aiming to reduce it to its simplest form. This process often involves:
- Applying rules of arithmetic, such as the quotient rule of exponents, to collapse complex parts into simpler, equivalent values.
- Carefully handling operations on exponents. For instance, when you subtract a negative exponent in the denominator from a positive exponent in the numerator, it turns into addition \( 3^{3 + 1} \).
- Once simplified, the expression \( 3^{3+1} \) becomes \( 3^4 \), which is a more straightforward and manageable form.
Exponentiation
Exponentiation is the process of raising a number to a power. It's a repeated multiplication of a number by itself. When you see something like \( 3^4 \), it means you multiply \(3\) by itself four times: \(3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3\).
Here are a few key points about exponentiation:
Here are a few key points about exponentiation:
- The base is the number being multiplied, which is \(3\) in this case.
- The exponent, or power, tells you how many times to multiply the base by itself, which is \(4\).
- Exponentiation is critical in simplifying expressions as it allows you to condense repeated multiplication into a more compact and manageable form.