Algebra · real student question

Use the product rule to simplify sqrt(x^3). Assume the variables represent nonnegative real numbers.

Question

Use the product rule to simplify the following expression. Assume that variables represent nonnegative real numbers.

x3\sqrt{x^{3}}

Step-by-step solution

  1. Decide what "simplified" means for a radical. A square root is simplified when no perfect-square factor is left under the radical sign. The exponent 33 is odd, so it cannot come out whole — but the largest even part of it can. That is the entire strategy: split off the biggest perfect square hiding inside x3x^{3}.

  2. Rewrite the radicand as a perfect square times a leftover. Since 3=2+13=2+1,

    x3=x2xx3=x2xx^{3}=x^{2}\cdot x\qquad\Longrightarrow\qquad \sqrt{x^{3}}=\sqrt{x^{2}\cdot x}

  3. Apply the product rule for radicals. For nonnegative aa and bb,

    ab=ab\sqrt{ab}=\sqrt{a}\cdot\sqrt{b}

    so

    x2x=x2x\sqrt{x^{2}\cdot x}=\sqrt{x^{2}}\cdot\sqrt{x}

    The nonnegativity assumption in the problem statement is exactly what licenses this split.

  4. Simplify the perfect-square factor. In general x2=x\sqrt{x^{2}}=|x|, but the problem states x0x\geq 0, so the absolute value is unnecessary:

    x2=x\sqrt{x^{2}}=x

    Hence

    x3=xx\sqrt{x^{3}}=x\sqrt{x}

  5. Confirm the result is fully simplified and check a value. The remaining radicand is xx to the first power, which has no perfect-square factor, so the job is done. Numerically, at x=9x=9 the original is 729=27\sqrt{729}=27 and the simplified form is 99=93=279\sqrt{9}=9\cdot 3=27; at x=2x=2 both give 8=222.8284\sqrt{8}=2\sqrt{2}\approx 2.8284.

Answer

xxx\sqrt{x}

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