Question 1045309
the original equation is q = 100p^-.5


your question:


Can someone explain why in the first step, 100P^-.5 * p^.5 = 100? Do the exponents -.5 + .5 get added which from p^0, which is equal to 1?


my answer:


100 * p^(-.5) * p(5) = 1.


p^(-.5) = 1/p^5.


therefore p^(-.5) * p(5) = 1/p^5 * p^5 = p^5 / p^5 = 1.


100 * 1 = 100.


also, by the rules of exponent arithmetic, p^(-.5) * p^(.5) = p^(-.5 + .5) = p^(0) = 1.


there are basic rules of exponent arithmetic that need to be followed.


here's a tutorial that discusses them.


<a href= "http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/beg_algebra/beg_alg_tut26_exp.htm" target = "_blank">http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/beg_algebra/beg_alg_tut26_exp.htm</a>


here's another one.


<a href = "http://www.purplemath.com/modules/exponent.htm" target= "_blank">http://www.purplemath.com/modules/exponent.htm</a>