Evaluate each expression without using a calculator. 27^1/3

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Recognize that the expression $27^{1/3}$ represents the cube root of 27, because an exponent of $\frac{1}{3}$ means the cube root.

Rewrite the expression as $\sqrt[3]{27}$ to make it clearer that we are looking for a number which, when multiplied by itself three times, equals 27.

Recall that 27 is a perfect cube since $3 \times 3 \times 3 = 27$.

Identify that the cube root of 27 is 3 because $3^3 = 27$.

Therefore, $27^{1/3}$ simplifies to 3.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Exponents and Powers

Exponents represent repeated multiplication of a base number. For example, 27 can be written as 3^3 because 3 multiplied by itself three times equals 27. Understanding how to manipulate exponents is essential for simplifying expressions involving powers.

Fractional Exponents

A fractional exponent like 1/3 indicates a root; specifically, the denominator of the fraction is the root's degree. For instance, x^(1/3) means the cube root of x. This concept allows rewriting roots as exponents, facilitating easier evaluation and simplification.

Evaluating Cube Roots

The cube root of a number is the value that, when multiplied by itself three times, gives the original number. For example, the cube root of 27 is 3 because 3^3 = 27. Recognizing perfect cubes helps in evaluating expressions like 27^(1/3) without a calculator.

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