What is the right answer?

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2 Answers
Mar 3, 2018

C

Explanation:

Use the exponential rules

  • #(x^a)^b=x^(ab)#

  • #x^a*x^b=x^(a+b)#

Therefore

#(x^(-2)*y^4)^(1/3)*x^2*y^(-1/3)#

#=(x^(-2))^(1/3)*(y^4)^(1/3)*x^2*y^(-1/3)#

#=x^(-2/3)*y^(4/3)*x^2*y^(-1/3)#

#=(x^(-2/3)*x^2)(y^(4/3)*y^(-1/3))#

#=(x^(-2/3+2))*(y^(4/3-1/3))#

#=x^(4/3)*y#

Mar 3, 2018

I will let you do the final part

Explanation:

Given: #color(green)((x^(-2)y^4)^(1/3)x^2y^(-1/3))#

The trick is to take at least some of it one step at a time. Other parts you may be able to jump steps.

If you are unsure about the negative indices do this:

Write as #color(green)( (y^4/x^2)^(1/3) x^2/y^(1/3)#

#color(green)( (y^(4/3)/x^(2/3)) x^2/y^(1/3)#

#color(green)((y^(4/3))/(y^(1/3)) xx x^2/(x^(2/3)))#

#color(green)(y^(4/3-1/3)color(white)(.)x^(2-2/3))#

I will let you finish this off