Write 54 as 2·27 and then as 21·33, and
indicate the understood index of the root as 2
Rules for 
1. If M is less than N, then leave it as it is.
2. If M can be divided evenly by N, then it equals
3. If M is greater than N, then do this division
where Q is the quotient and R is the remainder
Q
N)M
...
R
Then it equals:
For the 21, since 1 is less than 2, we use rule 1 and do nothing
For the 33, since the exponent 3 is greater than the index 2,
we use rule 3 and do this division:
1
2)3
2
1
For the x7, since 7 is greater than 2, we use rule 3
and do this division:
3
2)7
6
1
and write:
and dispose of the 1 exponents:
We can also multiply the 2 by the 3 and dispose of the 2 index and
we end up with:
Edwin
