Example

Simplifying x43\sqrt[3]{x^4} and x74\sqrt[4]{x^7}

To simplify radical expressions with variables and higher indices, factor the radicand into the greatest perfect power that matches the root's index. For x43\sqrt[3]{x^4}, rewrite the radicand with its largest perfect cube factor: x3x3\sqrt[3]{x^3 \cdot x}. Split this into x33x3\sqrt[3]{x^3} \cdot \sqrt[3]{x} and simplify to obtain xx3x\sqrt[3]{x}. For x74\sqrt[4]{x^7}, rewrite the radicand using its largest perfect fourth power factor: x4x34\sqrt[4]{x^4 \cdot x^3}. Separate this into x44x34\sqrt[4]{x^4} \cdot \sqrt[4]{x^3}. Because the fourth root has an even index, evaluating x44\sqrt[4]{x^4} requires an absolute value sign to guarantee a non-negative result, giving x|x|. The final simplified expression is xx34|x|\sqrt[4]{x^3}.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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