This is a free lesson from our course in Algebra I
In this lesson, you'll go through definitions of exponent, root and radical notations. Basically exponents are used
when a certain number raises to a certain power. For example: 34, where
3 is the base and 4 is the exponent. You'll also see how roots and exponents are
inverses of each other.
Note: One thing to keep in mind --
by default, the radical sign
means square root. An exponent is simply shorthand for multiplying that number of identical factors.
So 43 is the same as (4)(4)(4), three identical factors of 4 and x3 is just three factors of x, (x)(x)(x).One warning: Remember the order of operations.
Exponents are the first operation (in the absence of grouping symbols like parentheses),
so the exponent applies only to what it’s directly attached to. 3x3 is 3(x)(x)(x), not (3x)(3x)(3x).
If you wanted (3x)(3x)(3x), you’d need to use grouping: (3x)3.
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means square root. An exponent is simply shorthand for multiplying that number of identical factors.
So 43 is the same as (4)(4)(4), three identical factors of 4 and x3 is just three factors of x, (x)(x)(x).One warning: Remember the order of operations.
Exponents are the first operation (in the absence of grouping symbols like parentheses),
so the exponent applies only to what it’s directly attached to. 3x3 is 3(x)(x)(x), not (3x)(3x)(3x).
If you wanted (3x)(3x)(3x), you’d need to use grouping: (3x)3.