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Ch. R - Review of Basic Concepts
Lial - College Algebra 13th Edition
Lial13th EditionCollege AlgebraISBN: 9780136881063Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksLial 13th EditionCh. R - Review of Basic ConceptsProblem 30
Chapter 1, Problem 30

Simplify each expression. Assume all variables represent nonzero real numbers. (p4/q)2

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Start with the given expression: \(\left( \frac{p^{4}}{q} \right)^{2}\).
Apply the power of a quotient rule, which states that \(\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)^{n} = \frac{a^{n}}{b^{n}}\). So rewrite the expression as \(\frac{\left(p^{4}\right)^{2}}{q^{2}}\).
Next, apply the power of a power rule to the numerator: \(\left(p^{4}\right)^{2} = p^{4 \times 2} = p^{8}\).
Now the expression is simplified to \(\frac{p^{8}}{q^{2}}\).
Since all variables represent nonzero real numbers, this is the simplified form of the expression.

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Key Concepts

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

Laws of Exponents

The laws of exponents govern how to simplify expressions involving powers. Key rules include (a^m)^n = a^(m*n) and (a/b)^n = a^n / b^n. Applying these rules allows you to simplify expressions like (p^4 / q)^2 by raising both numerator and denominator to the power of 2.
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Simplifying Rational Expressions

A rational expression is a fraction where the numerator and/or denominator contain variables with exponents. Simplifying involves applying exponent rules and reducing the expression to its simplest form, assuming variables are nonzero to avoid division by zero.
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Assumptions About Variables

When simplifying expressions with variables, it is important to note any assumptions, such as variables representing nonzero real numbers. This ensures operations like division are valid and prevents undefined expressions.
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Equations with Two Variables
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