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Exponents and Radicals Videos 11 videos

Square Root Expressions
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To solve radical equations, you square both sides, FOIL it out if necessary, and simplify. Ta da!

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Finding square roots is simple. Don't believe us? Watch the video and be amazed. But not that amazed—it's just square roots.

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ACT Math 4.1 Elementary Algebra 266 Views


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Description:

Elementary Algebra: Drill 4, Problem 1. Simplify the expression.

Language:
English Language

Transcript

00:03

And another Shmoop de jour for you and your.. brain.

00:06

Simplify: a to the 8 and one-half power.

00:10

And here are the potential answers...

00:14

Alright. Do we realize that when we raise an exponent to a power with a fraction...

00:18

...we can simply multiply those numbers together?

00:22

In this case we are raising 'a' to the 8th power, which is then raised to the one-half power.

00:26

So we can do the dirty work first.

00:27

8 times 1/2 equals 4.

00:30

Which means we're left with a to the 4th power...and that's it.

00:33

Answer D.

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