Learning Resources
Outcomes
By the end of this lesson you will be able to answer questions like the ones in the pre-test below.
First answer the questions on the pre-test below in your Math 3103 binder. Then refer to the pages of the lesson that contain instruction on the questions for which you get an incorrect answer or for which you would like some further explanation.
Alternately, you can proceed directly to the first page of the lesson without doing the pre-test. To do this simply click on the Lesson button above. You can then return to this pre-test and use it as a worksheet.
Pre-test
Express each of the following as a power with a fractional exponent.
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
Express each of the following as a radical in simplest form:
5. 
6. 
Evaluate each of the following expressions. Leave each irrational answer in simplest radical form. Do not use a calculator.
7. 
8. 
9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
By the end of this section you should be able to:
- Define and use rational exponents in expressions.
- Apply the Laws of Exponents to expressions containing rational exponents.
- Relate rational exponents to radicals and use this relationship to simplify expressions.
Introduction
This section contains two lessons as follows:
Lesson 01 Definition of Rational Exponents and Their Relation to Radicals
In this lesson you will learn the definition of 
and how it is equivalent to 
. You will also practice converting from one form to the other and evaluating expressions that contain rational exponents and radicals.
Lesson 02 Simplifying, Multiplying, and Dividing Expressions with Rational Exponents
In this lesson you will apply the Laws of Exponents to expressions containing rational exponents. For example you will learn how to simplify 
to x + 2x2 +x3 and work with similar expressions.
Prerequisites
To be successful in this lesson, it would be helpful to know the following:
- The definition of and the laws of integral exponents and how o use them to simplify expressions.
- The definition of and how to simplify radical expressions.
- How to add, subtract, multiply, and divide radical expressions.