Understanding the Rules of Exponents

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 57 views

Introduction

In mathematics, simplifying expressions is a crucial skill that helps us to solve problems more efficiently and accurately. One of the most common ways to simplify an expression is by using the rules of exponents. In this article, we will focus on simplifying the given expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ using the rules of exponents.

Understanding the Rules of Exponents

Before we dive into simplifying the expression, let's quickly review the rules of exponents. The rules of exponents state that when we multiply two numbers with the same base, we add their exponents. For example, $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$ . Similarly, when we divide two numbers with the same base, we subtract their exponents. For example, $\frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n}$ .

Simplifying the Expression

Now that we have a good understanding of the rules of exponents, let's simplify the given expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ . To simplify this expression, we need to use the rule of exponents that states $(ab)^n = a^nb^n$ . In this case, we can rewrite the expression as $3^2 \cdot a^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2} \cdot b^{\frac{1}{3} \cdot 2}$ .

Applying the Rules of Exponents

Now that we have rewritten the expression, let's apply the rules of exponents to simplify it further. Using the rule of exponents that states $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$ , we can simplify the expression as follows:

$3^2 \cdot a^{\frac{1}{2} \cdot 2} \cdot b^{\frac{1}{3} \cdot 2} = 3^2 \cdot a^1 \cdot b^{\frac{2}{3}}$

Simplifying the Expression Further

Now that we have simplified the expression using the rules of exponents, let's simplify it further by evaluating the exponents. In this case, we can evaluate the exponents as follows:

$3^2 \cdot a^1 \cdot b^{\frac{2}{3}} = 9 \cdot a \cdot b^{\frac{2}{3}}$

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have successfully simplified the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ using the rules of exponents. By applying the rules of exponents and evaluating the exponents, we were able to simplify the expression to $9 \cdot a \cdot b^{\frac{2}{3}}$ . This simplified expression is more efficient and accurate than the original expression, and it can be used to solve problems more easily.

Final Answer

The final answer is $\boxed{9ab^{\frac{2}{3}}}$ .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the rule of exponents that states $(ab)^n = a^nb^n$ ?

A: The rule of exponents that states $(ab)^n = a^nb^n$ is a fundamental rule in mathematics that helps us to simplify expressions with exponents.

Q: How do we simplify the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ using the rules of exponents?

A: To simplify the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ using the rules of exponents, we need to use the rule of exponents that states $(ab)^n = a^nb^n$ . We can then apply the rules of exponents to simplify the expression further.

Q: What is the final answer to the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ ?

A: The final answer to the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ is $\boxed{9ab^{\frac{2}{3}}}$ .

Additional Resources

If you want to learn more about simplifying expressions using the rules of exponents, here are some additional resources that you can use:

Khan Academy: Exponents and Exponential Functions
Mathway: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents
Wolfram Alpha: Simplifying Expressions with Exponents

I hope this article has been helpful in simplifying the expression $\left(3 a^{\frac{1}{2}} b^{\frac{1}{3}}\right)^2$ using the rules of exponents. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please don't hesitate to ask.