Question

How do I simplify this to x^1 or just x?

Answer 1

I know the answer, I just need to understand the steps

Answer 2

So yes your answer is x^1 = x.

Answer 3

also keep in mind that higher level math classes won't allow to write x^1... so it's best to know that x is just x to the first power .

Answer 4

Yeah you can think of it this way, x^2 = x*x, x^3 = x*x*x, etc. So x^1 = just x. Hope that helps!

Answer 5

\(\color{blue}{\text{Originally Posted by}}\) @UsukiDoll
also keep in mind that higher level math classes won't allow to write x^1... so it's best to know that x is just x to the first power .
\(\color{blue}{\text{End of Quote}}\)
Any algebra class will not allow it because \(x^1\) simplifies to \(x\) in the same way that \(x+0\) simplifies to \(x\). If you don't simplify, you will lose points.

Answer 6

and I'm still stuck on my stuff... sigh maybe I'll just go on a wing and a prayer when the site comes back up.

Answer 7

It's just, how does 1/(x^-1) = x?

Answer 8

It tells us that any nonzero number raised to a negative power equals its reciprocal raised to the opposite positive power.

Answer 9

I see. Thanks.

Answer 10

Haru, you want to know why \[
\frac 1x = x^{-1}
\]?

Answer 11

Does \[
x^{-1}=\frac 1x
\]Make sense to you? Or does it seem weird?

Answer 12

It wasn't decided completely arbitrarily. It is based off the following pattern: \[
x^a\times x^b=x^{a+b}
\]