Question

Explain the purpose of converting a radical expression into a rational exponent.

Answer 1

It can make the arithmetic between radical expressions easier

Answer 2

can you give me an easy example or two?

Answer 3

\[ \Large
\sqrt{3^4} = 3^{4/2} = 3^2 = 9
\]

Answer 4

If you have: \[\sqrt[3]{23}^{4}*\sqrt[4]{23}^{5}\]That is the same as:\[23^{\frac{ 4 }{ 3 }}*23^{\frac{ 4 }{ 5 }}=23^{\frac{ 32 }{ 15 }}\]

Answer 5

The first one is very hard to solve in that form but once you put it into rational exponent form, you can multiply them easily. @wio example was also good