Algebra 2- Fractional Exponents

[mebeep]

can someone please explain fractional exponents clearly and concisely? I'm trying to understand from my textbook, and I'm just not getting any of it.

 

[JeffM]

can someone please explain fractional exponents clearly and concisely? I'm trying to understand from my textbook, and I'm just not getting any of it.

I am not sure there is much to think about. It is a definition. Why do we call a table a "table" instead of a "chair."

\(\displaystyle x^{(a/b)} \equiv \sqrt{x^a}.\) What about that do you not understand?

It turns out to be a useful definition because it allows us to extend the laws of exponents from integer powers to rational powers.