SOLUTION: ( a 1^2 + b 1^2 ) ( a 1^2 - b 1^2 ) 1^2 is one and a half exponent.:D

Algebra ->  Exponents-negative-and-fractional -> SOLUTION: ( a 1^2 + b 1^2 ) ( a 1^2 - b 1^2 ) 1^2 is one and a half exponent.:D      Log On


   

Question 218853: ( a 1^2 + b 1^2 ) ( a 1^2 - b 1^2 )
1^2 is one and a half exponent.:D
Answer by jsmallt9(3758) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
There are easy and a not-so-easy ways to solve this. But either way we do this we have to understand enough about exponents to know that x%5E%281%2F2%29%2Ax%5E%281%2F2%29+=+%28x%5E%281%2F2%29%29%5E2+=+x

The easy way is found by recognizing that
%28+a%5E%281%2F2%29+%2B+b%5E%28+1%2F2+%29%29%28+a%5E%28+1%2F2%29+-+b%5E%28+1%2F2+%29%29
fits the pattern:
p%2Bq%29%28p-q%29+=+p%5E2+-+q%5E2 with p+=+a%5E%281%2F2%29 and q+=+b%5E%281%2F2%29. So

The harder way is to multiply %28+a%5E%281%2F2%29+%2B+b%5E%28+1%2F2+%29%29%28+a%5E%28+1%2F2%29+-+b%5E%28+1%2F2%29%29. Multiplying expressions like this is done using something that is often called FOIL (First, Outside, Inside, Last):