In Exercises 39–60, simplify by factoring. Assume that all variables in a radicand represent positive real numbers and no radicands involve negative quantities raised to even powers.______³√32x⁹y¹⁷
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Identify the expression to simplify: \( \sqrt[3]{32x^9y^{17}} \).
Break down the radicand into its prime factors: \( 32 = 2^5 \), \( x^9 \), and \( y^{17} \).
Apply the property of cube roots: \( \sqrt[3]{a^3} = a \).
Simplify each part separately: \( \sqrt[3]{2^5} = 2^{5/3} \), \( \sqrt[3]{x^9} = x^{9/3} = x^3 \), and \( \sqrt[3]{y^{17}} = y^{17/3} \).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Factoring
Factoring is the process of breaking down an expression into simpler components, or factors, that when multiplied together yield the original expression. In algebra, this often involves identifying common factors or applying specific techniques such as grouping or using special products. Understanding how to factor is essential for simplifying expressions, especially when dealing with polynomials or radical expressions.
Radical expressions involve roots, such as square roots or cube roots, and are represented using the radical symbol (√). In the context of the given question, the cube root (³√) indicates that we are looking for a number that, when multiplied by itself three times, gives the radicand. Simplifying radical expressions often requires factoring the radicand into perfect powers to extract roots easily.
The properties of exponents are rules that govern how to manipulate expressions involving powers. Key properties include the product of powers, power of a power, and the quotient of powers. These rules are crucial when simplifying expressions with variables raised to exponents, as they allow for the combination and reduction of terms, particularly when dealing with roots and fractional exponents in radical expressions.