Dividing and Simplifying Rational Expressions

New member
Im working on a problem that says sqroot(30a5) over sqrt(5a) (the 5 in the numerator is an exponent)

so the next thing i got was sqrt(6a4) << the four is an exponent

i dont dont what to do after that.

the other problem i had was...

sqrt(48x3)(<< the 3 is an exponent) over sqrt 3x

then i got sqrt 16x2 and then i got 4x

So im not sure if thats right.

Thanks so so so much.

emmaiskool242

Junior Member
ok so your second problem is correct and now for your first one do you want it in steps???

emmaiskool242

Junior Member
STEPS~

1.ok so the first thing that you want to do is to get rid of the square root in the denominator.To do this you want to multiply the fraction by something that won't change like 1. So we are going to multiply it by (square root) 5a over (square root) 5a,because something divided by itself equals 1.

EX.

(square root)30a^5 (square root)5a
_________________ * ______________
(square root)5a (square root)5a

2. Then you would use your distributive property to multiply the things together. So you would multiply (30a^5)(5a)
which equals (square root) 150a^6
THEN you would do the samething to the bottom
which equals (square root) 25a^2

EX.

(square root)150a^6
__________________
(square root)25a^2

3. so then you would take the things that you have two of out.You do this by factoring each of the numbers.P.S. on the bottom since you multipied it by itself you will always have two of each eliminating the square root and leaving you with the same thing you started out with 5a without the square root

EX.

(square root)2*3*5*5*a*a*a*a*a*a
_______________________________
(square root) 5*5*a*a

4.Then you take out the groups of two whcih leaves one. Meaning you take out a two fives you just have one 5 on the outside of the square root.

EX.

5a^3(square root)2*3
_____________________
5a

5. uliminate (divide out/simplify)

EX.

5*a*a*a(square root)6
____________________
5*a

6. The 5a cancels itself out leaving you with

a^2(square root)6

i hope that helped, do you understand???

Denis

Senior Member
Im working on a problem that says sqroot(30a5) over sqrt(5a) (the 5 in the numerator is an exponent)
so the next thing i got was sqrt(6a4) << the four is an exponent
i dont dont what to do after that.
sqrt(30a^5) / sqrt(5a)
= sqrt(30a^5 / 5a)
= sqrt(6a^4) : so you were correct to that point
= a^2sqrt(6) : since sqrt(a^4) = a^2
That's it.

idk wut ^ means

Denis

Senior Member
the other problem i had was...
sqrt(48x3)(<< the 3 is an exponent) over sqrt 3x
then i got sqrt 16x2 and then i got 4x
So im not sure if thats right.
Properly typed: sqrt(48x^3) / sqrt(3x)
= sqrt(48x^3 / 3x)
= sqrt(16x^2)
= 4x : so you were correct; good work!

4x times 4x = 16x^2 : why were you not sure?

New member
no i understand how to do it but u told me to type it a certain way using ^ this thing and idk wut ^ means. and i was wondering wut that meant for future reference.

Denis

Senior Member
^ means "exponent"

You typed: sqrt(48x3)(<< the 3 is an exponent)

show like this: sqrt(48x^3)

Got it?