Question

how does sqrt(16)^(1/2) =2 ? I don't know how to get to that answer without my calculator :)

Answer 1

\[(\sqrt{16})^{1/2}\] = \[\sqrt{\sqrt{16}}\]

you are basically taking the sqrt two times:
\[\sqrt{16} = 4\]
\[4^{1/2} = \sqrt{4}\]

Answer 2

\[a ^{b/c}=(\sqrt[c]{a})^{b}\]