document.write( "Question 227034: I am supposed to use the laws of exponents to simplify:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "3^3/4 *3^3/8\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Do I add the exponents to come up with 6/12, then simplify that to 1/2, so the answer is 3^1/2? \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #168902 by jsmallt9(3758) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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I am supposed to use the laws of exponents to simplify:\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( " $\"3%5E%283%2F4%29+%2A3%5E%283%2F8%29\"$ \r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "Do I add the exponents...
\n" ); document.write( "Yes.\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "... to come up with 6/12,
\n" ); document.write( "No. $\"3%2F4%2B3%2F8\"$ does not add up to 6/12. When you add fractions:

the denominators must be the same before you add
you only add the numerators (not the denominators!)

\n" ); document.write( " $\"3%2F4%2B3%2F8\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The Lowest Common Denominator (LCD) here is 8. So we make the first fraction's denominator an 8 by multiplying it (and its numerator) by 2:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%283%2F4%29%2A%282%2F2%29%2B3%2F8\"$
\n" ); document.write( " $\"6%2F8+%2B+3%2F8\"$
\n" ); document.write( "Now we can add:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"9%2F8\"$

\n" ); document.write( "So $\"3%5E%283%2F4%29+%2A3%5E%283%2F8%29+=++3%5E%289%2F8%29\"$ \n" ); document.write( "

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