SOLUTION: Simplify: (x^4 y^-2)^1/2 Please explain how you got to your answer and thank you very much!

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Question 1006464: Simplify: (x^4 y^-2)^1/2
Please explain how you got to your answer and thank you very much!
Found 2 solutions by Boreal, rothauserc:
Answer by Boreal(15235) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Raising to a power means multiplying the exponents. (a^2)^3=a^6. It is (a*a)*(a*a)*(a*a)
You can rewrite as
(x^4)^(1/2) * (y^(-2)^1/2
That is x^2*y^(-1)
That is x^2/y, since y^-1 in the numerator goes to the denominator as y^1

Answer by rothauserc(4718) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
(x^4 y^-2)^(1/2)
note that y^-2 = (1/y^2)
(x^4 / y^2)^(1/2)
any variable raised to the (1/2) power means square root
(x^2 / y) = x^2 y^-1