How do you simplify root4(x^12/y^4)?

2 Answers
Feb 25, 2017

root4(x^12/y^4) = x^3/y

Explanation:

root4(x^12/y^4) = (x^12/y^4)^(1/4) =(x^12 * y^-4)^(1/4)

Remember the rule of indices: (a^m)^n = a^(m xx n)

Applying this rule to the expression:

(x^12 * y^-4)^(1/4) = x^(12/4) * y^(-4/4)

= x^3 * y^-1

= x^3/y

Feb 25, 2017

Detailed explanation:

Explanation:

color(blue)(root(4)((x^12)/(y^4))

Let's solve it using simple steps

First we should know that color(brown)(root(x)(y/z)=(root(x)(y))/(root(x)(z))

So,

rarrroot(4)((x^12)/(y^4))=(root(4)(x^12))/(root(4)(y^4))

Now solve root(4)(x^12) and root(4)(y^4) each independantly

Let's solve root(4)(x^12) (expand it)

rarrroot(4)(x^12)=root(4)(x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*x)

Take out the roots

rarrroot(4)(underbrace(x*x*x*x)*underbrace(x*x*x*x)*underbrace(x*x*x*x))

rarrx*x*x

color(green)(rArrx^3

Now solve root(4)(y^4) (expand it)

rarrroot(4)(y^4)=root(4)(y*y*y*y)

Take out the roots

rarrroot(4)(underbrace(y*y*y*y))

color(green)(rArry

So, put the solutions together to get our answer

color(blue)(x^3/y

Hope this helps! :)