Simplify Exponents and Radicals

Practice Questions with Step-by-Step Solutions

To simplify exponents and radicals, you must apply the laws of exponents and the properties of roots. Review the rules for radicals and exponents before starting. Try to solve these numerical expressions without a calculator.

Simplify Numerical Expressions with Exponents

Question 1: Evaluate the following expressions:

  1. \( 3^2 \)
  2. \( -3^4 \)
  3. \( (-3)^4 \)
  4. \( \left( -\dfrac{2}{3} \right)^{-2} \)
  5. \( -3^{-3} + (-2)^{-2} \)
View Solutions for Question 1
  1. \( 3^2 = 9 \)
  2. \( -3^4 = -(3 \times 3 \times 3 \times 3) = -81 \)
  3. \( (-3)^4 = -3 \times -3 \times -3 \times -3 = 81 \)
  4. \( \left(-\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^{-2} = \left(-\dfrac{3}{2}\right)^2 = \dfrac{9}{4} \)
  5. \( -3^{-3} + (-2)^{-2} = -\dfrac{1}{27} + \dfrac{1}{4} = \dfrac{-4 + 27}{108} = \dfrac{23}{108} \)

Numerical Expressions with Radicals & Rational Exponents

Question 2: Evaluate the following:

  1. \( \sqrt[3]{-8} \)
  2. \( 8^{2/3} \)
  3. \( 16^{-3/4} \)
  4. \( \dfrac{\sqrt[3]{-16}}{\sqrt[3]{2}} \)
View Solutions for Question 2
  1. \( \sqrt[3]{-8} = \sqrt[3]{(-2)^3} = -2 \)
  2. \( 8^{2/3} = (\sqrt[3]{8})^2 = 2^2 = 4 \)
  3. \( 16^{-3/4} = \dfrac{1}{(\sqrt[4]{16})^3} = \dfrac{1}{2^3} = \dfrac{1}{8} \)
  4. \( \dfrac{\sqrt[3]{-16}}{\sqrt[3]{2}} = \sqrt[3]{\dfrac{-16}{2}} = \sqrt[3]{-8} = -2 \)

Simplify Algebraic Expressions with Exponents

Question 3: Simplify these expressions:

  1. \( (x^2)^{-2} \)
  2. \( \dfrac{(3x)^2(-2x)^3}{(2x)^2} \)
  3. \( (-2x^2 y^{-3})^3 \)
  4. \( \left (\dfrac{-8x^3}{y^{-6}} \right)^{2/3} \)
View Solutions for Question 3
  1. \( (x^2)^{-2} = x^{-4} = \dfrac{1}{x^4} \)
  2. \( \dfrac{9x^2 \cdot (-8x^3)}{4x^2} = \dfrac{-72x^5}{4x^2} = -18x^3 \)
  3. \( (-2)^3 (x^2)^3 (y^{-3})^3 = -8x^6 y^{-9} = \dfrac{-8x^6}{y^9} \)
  4. \( \dfrac{(-8)^{2/3} (x^3)^{2/3}}{(y^{-6})^{2/3}} = \dfrac{4x^2}{y^{-4}} = 4x^2 y^4 \)

Simplify Algebraic Expressions with Radicals

Question 4: Simplify the following:

  1. \( \sqrt[4]{16x^4} \)
  2. \( \sqrt[3]{8 x^6 y^3} \)
  3. \( \dfrac{ \sqrt[5]{64x^9 y^7}}{ \sqrt[5]{2 x^4 y^2}} \)
View Solutions for Question 4
  1. \( \sqrt[4]{16} \sqrt[4]{x^4} = 2|x| \)
  2. \( 2x^{6/3}y^{3/3} = 2x^2y \)
  3. \( \sqrt[5]{\dfrac{64x^9 y^7}{2x^4 y^2}} = \sqrt[5]{32x^5 y^5} = 2xy \)

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