SOLUTION: Im having problems wit this particular expression. Could someone help me out please (16x^8y^12)1/2 (161/2)(x^8)1/2(y^12)1/2 (16)^-1 x^4 y^6 1/16 1/x^4 1/y^6 y^6/16x^4

Algebra ->  Exponents -> SOLUTION: Im having problems wit this particular expression. Could someone help me out please (16x^8y^12)1/2 (161/2)(x^8)1/2(y^12)1/2 (16)^-1 x^4 y^6 1/16 1/x^4 1/y^6 y^6/16x^4       Log On


   



Question 557665: Im having problems wit this particular expression. Could someone help me out please

(16x^8y^12)1/2
(161/2)(x^8)1/2(y^12)1/2
(16)^-1 x^4 y^6
1/16 1/x^4 1/y^6
y^6/16x^4

Answer by KMST(5397) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Your question is confusing, so I assume you are confused. As a result I may end up answering the wrong question, or confusing you even worse.
Maybe your expression was
%2816x%5E8y%5E12%29%281%2F2%29
If so the answer is
%2816x%5E8y%5E12%29%281%2F2%29 = %2816%2A%281%2F2%29%29x%5E8y%5E12 = 8x%5E8y%5E12
There was not much anyone could do with that expression.
There are a few "grammar" rules for reading and writing algebra. They are very few. The rest are logical conclusions, like the need to take off your shoes before taking off your socks. They are obvious if you are not in panic mode. Unfortunately math and algebra cause a lot of unnecessary panic.
The "grammar" rules for writing algebra say that 16x%5E8y%5E12 means that x%5E8 andy%5E12 would be calculated first, if you could do it.
However, there's nothing you can do with them, so they will carry unchanged to the end, like so much undigestible fiber.
You have three factors inside the parenthesis: 16, x%5E8 andy%5E12.
A fourth factor 1%2F2 is outside the parenthesis.
All four factors are multiplied together. Although multiplication is done two factors at a time, when all you are doing is multiplications, the order and the grouping do not matter. So when they write the calculation for the volume of a box as
5%2A9%2A2 it really means %285%2A9%29%2A2, but no one bother to write the parentheses.
The result can also be calculated as 5%2A%289%2A2%29 or as %285%2A2%29%2A9. You will use all your factors, but can choose how to do it. You grab any two factors, multiply them together, and then multiply the result times the other factor. You would not care which two dimensions of a box you multiply together first. The volume of the box is the same, anyway you calculate it.
In the case of your problem, the only two factors you can do anything with are 16 and 1%2F2, so after you multiply those two together, you are done. You leave the rest of the multiplications indicated.