Example

Writing 10m\sqrt{10m}, 3n5\sqrt[5]{3n}, and 36y43\sqrt[4]{6y} with Rational Exponents

Convert three radical expressions that have compound radicands (products of numbers and variables) into rational exponent form using the equivalence a1n=ana^{\frac{1}{n}} = \sqrt[n]{a}.

10m=(10m)12\sqrt{10m} = (10m)^{\frac{1}{2}}: No index is shown, so it is 22. The denominator of the rational exponent is 22. The entire radicand 10m10m is the base, so it must be enclosed in parentheses: (10m)12(10m)^{\frac{1}{2}}.

3n5=(3n)15\sqrt[5]{3n} = (3n)^{\frac{1}{5}}: The index is 55, so the denominator of the exponent is 55. The entire radicand 3n3n is the base: (3n)15(3n)^{\frac{1}{5}}.

36y4=3(6y)143\sqrt[4]{6y} = 3(6y)^{\frac{1}{4}}: The index is 44, so the denominator of the exponent is 44. The radicand 6y6y becomes the base raised to the 14\frac{1}{4} power. The coefficient 33 stays outside the exponential expression as a multiplier: 3(6y)143(6y)^{\frac{1}{4}}.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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