Exponents Definition and 272 Threads

Would we also use Newton's method, or are there more powerful methods? Are there general methods for solving equations with fractional exponents? The solution to this problem is; https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=solve+x%5E%2817%2F6%29+%2B+x%5E%2821%2F25%29+%3D+15

The answer key only states that a) "is true" and b) "is false" but does not give any further context as to why. My reasoning went as far as that the fundamental theorem of arithmetics and the fact that a perfect square (square of an integer) has even exponents in its prime factorization could...

I noted that, ##lcm(a,b)=2048## Letting ##a=2^x## and ##b=2^y##, ##⇒\dfrac{1}{2^x}+\dfrac{1}{2^y}= \dfrac{3}{2^{11}}## ##⇒\dfrac{2^{11}}{2^x}+\dfrac{2^{11}}{2^y}= 3=[4-1]## ##⇒\dfrac{2^{11}}{2^x}+\dfrac{2^{11}}{2^y}=2^2-2^0## My intention being to write all the numbers to base ##2##...

Is there a subjacent reason that explains why these two numbers are so close? $$10^{1/10} \approx 2^{1/3}$$ For context, this is where I found out about this. Source: https://www.instarengineering.com/pdf/resources/Instar_Vibration_Testing_of_Small_Satellites_Part_5.pdf Is it just a...

What is the difference between these to. -3² and (-3)² ? I know - x - = + I am told -3²= -9 not +9 -3² means -3 x -3 = 9 I am told (-3)² = 9

Problem Statement : Solve the inequality : ##\left( \dfrac{1}{3} \right)^x<9##. Attempts: I copy and paste my attempt below using Autodesk Sketchbook##^{\circledR}##. The two attempts are shown in colours black and blue. Issue : On checking, the first attempt in black turns out to be...

On ##x\in{(-1,1)}##, ##x\in{\mathbb{R}}##, ##\forall{n\in{\mathbb{N}}}##, ##x^{|2n|}=O(x^{|2n+1|})## Sugestions? Any answer is wellcome! Greetings, PF

So my attempt is this: ##(2k)^2 k^3 = 4k^5## to clear the top numerator then to clear the denominator ## k^{-1} k^{-5} = k^{-6}##Then I apply the quotient rule and get ##4k^{11} (5k^{-2})^{-3}## and simplifying the right hand side I get ##5^{-3} k^6## here is where I got lost, why is it that...

In the below picture I understood the problem and also understood the solution. But I am not clear on why did they choose this particular method. So my question is why did they divided 50 with powers of 2 and 3, and what relation does ##50## have with ##50!## ( I am clear on the solution part...

(If I should have posted this in the Math thread instead of the Homework thread, please let me know.) I have three questions which I will ask in sequence. They all relate to each other. I've typed my questions and solutions attempts below. I've also attached a hand-written version of this...

So I got the answer through a little addition i.e 9^(1/2) multiplied by 9^(1/2) = 9^1 or 9 3 x 3 = 9 so 3 is the answer to what is 9^(1/2) I've tested this out with a few other numbers and have made this generalization, x^(1/2) = √x It seems to make the equations orderly and consistent but is...

I know that the prime factorization theorem predicts that a prime number raised to an integer power will never be equal to another prime number raised to a different power. But does this apply to real number powers? For example, suppose there is a prime number raised to some real value, could...

https://www.physicsforums.com/attachments/9551 OK I went thru this 3 time and might still have some error ... otherwise typos maybe I don't think this could be solved by just observation

Hi, Everyone. I suspect I am a bit unique here. I'm struggling with a math problem for a business model rather than a homework assignment. It's been quite a while since I have worked with exponents and I am hoping someone can assist me with a question. I have the following calculations...

I was just thinking about this earlier and couldn't come up with a good enough resolution. I'm guessing it's a matter of convention more than anything. If we have ##x^{2} = a##, taking the principle root of both sides gives ##\sqrt{x^{2}} = \sqrt{a} \implies |x| = \sqrt{a}##. Yet evidently if...

Summary: An example problem on Brilliant.org leaves out a step in solving 2^3 + 6^3 I've spend a couple days trying to understand how the second step of solving the problem 23 + 63, which is 23 + 63 = 23 + (23 * 33) = 23(1 + 33). It is not clear how this problem gets to 23(1 + 33). I can see...

Are there rigorous texts that treat the topic of raising real numbers to rational powers without treating it a special case of using complex numbers? I'm not trying to avoid the complex numbers for my own personal use! My goal is to determine whether students who have not studied complex...

Let a,b,c and n are real numbers.a-b = C I want to get rid of a,b and find the following expression in terms of C and n. How can I do that? (an-bn)= ? (in terms of C and n) Thank you.

The result of \frac{7x-\frac92\sqrt[6]{y^5}}{\left(x^{\frac56}-6y^{-\frac13}\right)x^{-2}} for x = 4 and y = 27 is ... a. \left(1+2\sqrt2\right)9\sqrt2 b. \left(1+2\sqrt2\right)9\sqrt3 c. \left(1+2\sqrt2\right)18\sqrt3 d. \left(1+2\sqrt2\right)27\sqrt2 e. \left(1+2\sqrt2\right)27\sqrt3 I got...

Hello I thought is would be fun to try a problem in which I had a complex number elevated to a complex power. To do this, I first tried to manipulate the general equation ## z^{w} ## (where ##z ## and ##w## are complex numbers) to look a bit more approachable. My work is as follows: ##z^{w}##...

I am not sure how to figure this out. Basically, I know XN + XN = 2XN and that 2N + 2N = 2N+1. So, since 2 * 2 = 4 why doesn't 2N+1 = (2 * 2)N = 4N?

Homework Statement What would have caused humans to come up with fractional exponent notations? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I understand that it makes sense to use the exponent notation when we have to multiply the same number a number of times. For example, 10^8 is the short...

Homework Statement a3/2a5/4 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I'm hoping you can help. My solution to this problem would be: a3/2+5/4=a8/6=a4/3 But the answer in the back of my book is given as a11/4 I'm confused!

Hello all. I am wondering why we raise the concentration to the exponent of the stochiometric coefficient. I understand why we take the products of reactants or products. For instance, let me give an example to show where I am getting mixed up. Let's say 2A +3B = 8C as a reversible...

Solving these seem fairly simple so far. But I don't know why this works. I asked my instructor and she couldn't give me an intuitive reason as to why. Homework Statement ##\sqrt[3]y\cdot\sqrt[5]y^2## Homework Equations N/A The Attempt at a Solution $$\sqrt[3]y\cdot\sqrt[5]y^2$$ $$y^\frac...

Just out of curiosity, what would a proof of ##a^m a^n = a^{m+n}## amount to? Of course obviously if you have n of one thing and m of another you get m+n, but I am wondering if this is rigorous enough, or if you need induction.

Going through a problem and and I keep getting it wrong and I'm not sure why. In a part of the problem, the expression ##\left(-3\right)\left(-r^4\right)\left(-s^5\right)## comes up and the solution that it's giving me is ##-3r^4s^5## Wouldn't the last factor be ##-s^5## since the power of a...

It's not a homework question. I just thought up a method of finding answers to problems where a number is raised to a complex number and I need to know if I am right. If we have to find e^(i), can we do it by; first squaring it to get, e^(-1) which is 1/e and then taking its square root to get...

Rules of Exponents (4)^(1/5) * (4)^(1/5) 4^(1/5) + (1/5) 4^(2/5) Correct? Is the answer 2^(4/5)?

Homework Statement 2^(t-1) * 6^(t-2) = 20,000 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have no idea how to solve this, although I do understand the basics of logarithms

I understand that when you use the chain rule you multiply the exponent by the number in front and then reduce the power by 1. So the derivative of 2x^3 = 6x^2 I'm confused now however on how you would solve something like e^-3x, the answer turns out to be -3e^-3x Am I missing a rule? Why...

Homework Statement Find critical numbers of the function: F(x)=t^3/4 - 2t^1/4 Derivative I got: F'(x)=3/4 t^-1/4 - 1/2 t^-3/4 Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have found the derivative and I understand I must pull out a t in order to find critical numbers, and run across this...

Hi all! For a talk I want to compare the values of the critical exponents found by Wilson and Fisher in their \epsilon = 1 paper (10.1103/PhysRevLett.28.240), with the experimental values measured up-to-date. Can anyone provide a source for these measured values (\gamma, \nu, \eta)? Thanks...

Supposing I have $$(-4x^n)$$ Why does it equal $(-4)^n * x^n$ and not $(-4)^n * (-x) ^ n$? When we have a negative symbol it only applies to the first item in an expression? so $-xbcw$ equals $b * c * w * (-x)$? Which means if we wanted the other items to be negative we would have to do...

I have this expression $$\frac {1} { e^x + \frac {1} {e^x}}$$ and it simplifies to $$\frac {e^x} { e^{2x} + 1}$$ And I'm not sure how to get this simplification or what rules to apply to get to this simplification.

Homework Statement Write an expression containing a single radical and simplify. Homework Equations \sqrt[4]{xy}\sqrt[3]{x^2{y}} The Attempt at a Solution I can't add the exponents and I can't multiply the bases. I can't take anything out of the radicals to make the bases the same. I have no...

I work a lot in binary. I am organizing some of my work and need a way to write expressions. I can always create my own notation, but i would rather not invent something that already exists. 1011 is binary for 11 base 10. I use this {3,1,0} to represent the binary with just exponents. When I...

Homework Statement I am supposed to calculate Lyapunov exponent of a damped, driven harmonic oscillator given by ## \ddot{x} + 2\beta \dot{x} + \omega_0^2 x = fcos(\omega t)## Lyapunov exponent is ## \lambda ## in the equation ## \delta x(t) = \delta x_0 e^{\lambda t} ## The attempt at a...

I am having trouble understanding why the following expression is equal to 3: SQRT((-3)^2) What prevents me from cancelling the exponent 2 by the exponent 1/2 introduced by the square root, which yields a value of -3? Thanks for the help!

I saw a YouTube video presenting what seemed like a clever solution to ##x^{x^{x^{.^{.}}}} = 2## (which is to say: an infinite tower of exponents of x = 2). He said to consider just the exponents and ignore the base and realize that those exponents themselves become a restatement of the whole...

Isaac0427 submitted a new PF Insights post Complex and Irrational Exponents for the Layman Continue reading the Original PF Insights Post.

Homework Statement x(cnxn-1) 3. The Attempt at a Solution I know that the answer is cnxn I'm not sure why though. My thinking is that we have cnxn-1 and we multiply that by x. x times x is x2 so I'm expecting a 2 to interact with the n-1 in the exponents. I'm just not sure how n-1 interacts...

Hi everyone, Would anyone be able to give me a few examples of places where units with non-integer exponents come up? I know of a couple right now: noise voltage density (?) in electronics has units \text{V}/\text{Hz}^\frac{1}{2} and the statcoulomb has equivalent units...

How do I solve (2^2015)*(5^2019) ? Thank you, if you can teach me how to do this :) I couldn't figure out how to use LaTeX.

Homework Statement Evaluate the integral to find the area. Homework Equations The Attempt at a Solution[/B] gifs upload So I know how to find an anti-derivative for the most part. Here it's tricky because my equation has an exponent AKA square root. I tried to use the chain rule with...

ok so is there a function that exists (for all intents and purposes let's call it G(x,y) )where x= a^2*b^4*c y=a^4*b^2*d G(x,y) = a^2*b^4 basically gcd, but the exponents match those of the common prime factors of the first input (x) ******** equally useful would be a function where the...

Homework Statement ##15(5^x-3^x)<16⋅15^{\frac{x}{2}}## Homework Equations Rules of logarithms The Attempt at a Solution I don't know where to start. Here's one way to start rearranging the equation: ##5^x-3^x<16⋅15^{\frac{x-2}{2}}## What's the correct way to start rearranging?

In my textbook, it makes the leap from $2(2^{n + 1}) = 2^{n + 2}$ citing the laws of exponents. I'm not sure which law of exponents it is referring to. Thanks

Suppose you have 8-1/3 and want a precise value for it. How would you go about calculating this on a regular scientific calculator. I punched in: 8, then the exponent button, then 1, then negative, then division, and finally 3. The calculator reads "error."