ok I am using webassign as the math program for algebra class, and it seems whatever answer I put it it says its wrong. so try this problem for me though, its rational exponents.

b^1/4 over b^5/4

Question

ok I am using webassign as the math program for algebra class, and it seems whatever answer I put it it says its wrong. so try this problem for me though, its rational exponents.

b^1/4 over b^5/4

amistre64 · Answer

1
--------
b^(5-1/4)

1/b

anonymous · Answer

I got -1..that must be wrong

amistre64 · Answer

b^(1/4)               1                       1
------- = ----------- =  ------- = 1/b^1 = 1/b
b^(5/4)       b^[(5-1)/4]        b^(4/4)

amistre64 · Answer

1/b  and  b^(-1)  are the same thing; but many programs dont want a -exponent

anonymous · Answer

Yeah I can see that now. Thank you soo much for explaining.

amistre64 · Answer

youre welcome :)

amistre64 · Answer

whenever you have a -exp...put it to the other side of the fraction bar and change it to +

amistre64 · Answer

like this:

b^-2      1
---- = ---
   1        b^2

anonymous · Answer

okay thank you I did 1/b as the answer and it liked it.