Chapter 2: Problem 1
Simplify each of the following: (a) \(2 a b-4 a c+b a-2 c b+3 b a\) (b) \(3 x^{2} y z-z x^{2} y+4 y x z^{2}-2 x^{2} z y+3 z^{2} y x-3 z y^{2}\) (c) \(c^{p} \times c^{-q} \div c^{-2}\) (d) \(\frac{\left(x^{\frac{1}{2}}\right)^{-\frac{2}{3}} \div\left(y^{\frac{3}{4}}\right)^{2} \times\left(x^{\frac{3}{5}}\right)^{-\frac{5}{3}}}{\left(x^{\frac{1}{4}}\right)^{-1} \times\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{6}}\)
Short Answer
Step by step solution
Simplify expression (a)
Simplify expression (b)
Simplify expression (c) using exponent rules
Simplify expression (d) using exponent rules
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Like Terms
For example, in the expression \[2ab + ba + 3ba - 4ac - 2cb,\]we notice that terms like \(ab\) are present multiple times albeit in slightly different forms like \(ba\) and \(3ba\). Since \(ab\) and \(ba\) are similar, these can be added together.
- Combine \(2ab\), \(ba\) (which is \(1ab\)), and \(3ba\) (or \(3ab\)) to get \((2+1+3)ab = 6ab\).
- The terms \(-4ac\) and \(-2cb\) don't have like pairs, so they stay as they are.
Rules of Exponents
Key rules include:
- When multiplying like bases, add their exponents: \(a^m \times a^n = a^{m+n}\).
- When dividing like bases, subtract their exponents: \(a^m \div a^n = a^{m-n}\).
- A power raised to another power requires multiplying the exponents: \((a^m)^n = a^{m \times n}\).
Fraction Simplification
When dealing with fractions that have variables raised to powers, apply the rules of exponents. For instance, \[\frac{(x^{\frac{1}{2}})^{-\frac{2}{3}} \div (y^{\frac{3}{4}})^2 \times (x^{\frac{3}{5}})^{-\frac{5}{3}}}{(x^{\frac{1}{4}})^{-1} \times (\frac{1}{3})^6}\]requires
- Careful handling of negative exponents and fractions.
- Rewriting each power so they're easily simplified.
Negative Exponents
For instance, the expression \[(x^{\frac{1}{2}})^{-\frac{2}{3}}\]translates into \[x^{-(\frac{2}{3} \times \frac{1}{2})} = x^{-\frac{1}{3}}.\]Similarly, handling negative exponents in division or multiplication requires flipping the terms or reversing the operation.
- For any base \(a\), remember: \(a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}\).
- In operations, convert negative exponents to positivities to observe clear simplifications.