Solve (x²×a³)^(1/4): Fourth Root of Multiple Variables

Question

Solve the following problem:

(x2×a3)14= ? (x^2\times a^3)^{\frac{1}{4}}=\text{ ?}

Video Solution

Solution Steps

00:08 Alright, let's begin.
00:11 We'll use the multiplication power rule.
00:15 This means, when you multiply numbers and raise them to an exponent, N,
00:20 it's like raising each number to the power of N separately.
00:24 We'll apply this rule in our exercise.
00:34 Next, we'll use the power of a power rule.
00:38 So, A to the power of M, then to the power of N,
00:43 equals A to the power of M times N.
00:48 And we'll use this in our exercise as well.
00:52 Let's start by calculating the powers.
00:55 Then, we'll simplify the fractions as much as possible.
00:59 And that's how we find the solution to our problem!

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve this in two stages. In the first stage, we'll use the rule for a power of a product in parentheses:

(zt)n=zntn (z\cdot t)^n=z^n\cdot t^n

This rule states states that, when raising a product in parentheses to a power, each factor in the product is raised to that power when expanding the parentheses.

Let's apply this rule to our problem:

(x2a3)14=(x2)14(a3)14 (x^2\cdot a^3)^{\frac{1}{4}}=(x^2)^{\frac{1}{4}}\cdot(a^3)^{\frac{1}{4}}

For our problem, when opening the parentheses, we apply the power to each factor of the product separately; However given that each of these factors is being raised to a power, we do this carefully and use parentheses.

Next, we'll use the power rule for a power of a power:

(bm)n=bmn (b^m)^n=b^{m\cdot n}

Let's apply this rule to our expression:

(x2)14(a3)14=x214a314=x24a34=x12a34 (x^2)^{\frac{1}{4}}\cdot(a^3)^{\frac{1}{4}}=x^{2\cdot\frac{1}{4}}\cdot a^{3\cdot\frac{1}{4}}=x^{\frac{2}{4}}\cdot a^{\frac{3}{4}}=x^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot a^{\frac{3}{4}}

In the second stage, we performed the multiplication in the exponents of the factors we obtained, while remembering that multiplying fractions means multiplying their numerators and then, in the final stage, we simplified the fraction in the power of the first factor in the resulting product.

Therefore, the correct answer is answer A.

Answer

x12×a34 x^{\frac{1}{2}}\times a^{\frac{3}{4}}