Find a solution to each equation, then check your solution.
3.2
Activity
To the . . . Half?
Clare said, “I know that , , and . I wonder what means?”
First, she graphed for some whole number values of , and estimated from the graph.
Graph the function yourself. What estimate do you get for ?
Using the exponent rules, Clare evaluated . What did she get?
For that to be true, what must the value of be?
Diego saw Clare’s work and said, “Now I’m wondering about .”
First he graphed for some whole number values of , and estimated from the graph.
Graph the function yourself. What estimate do you get for ?
Next he used exponent rules to find the value of . What did he find?
Then he said, “That looks like a root!” What do you think he means?
3.3
Activity
Fraction of What, Exactly?
Use the exponent rules and your understanding of roots to find the exact value of:
3.4
Activity
Exponents and Radicals
Match each exponential expression to an equivalent expression.
49
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7
1
Student Lesson Summary
How can we make sense of the expression ? For this expression to make any sense at all, we should be able to apply exponent rules to it. Let’s try squaring using exponent rules: , which is 11. In other words, if we square the number using exponent rules, we get 11. That means that must be equal to .
Similarly, must be equal to because
In general, if is any positive number, then and
Expressions that involve the symbol are often referred to as radical expressions.
Glossary
None
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