Example

Writing 5y\sqrt{5y}, 4x3\sqrt[3]{4x}, and 35z43\sqrt[4]{5z} with Rational Exponents

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

5y=(5y)12\sqrt{5y} = (5y)^{\frac{1}{2}}: No index is shown, so the index is 22. The entire radicand 5y5y becomes the base, enclosed in parentheses, and the index becomes the denominator of the exponent: (5y)12(5y)^{\frac{1}{2}}.

4x3=(4x)13\sqrt[3]{4x} = (4x)^{\frac{1}{3}}: The index is 33, so the denominator of the exponent is 33. The entire radicand 4x4x is the base: (4x)13(4x)^{\frac{1}{3}}.

35z4=3(5z)143\sqrt[4]{5z} = 3(5z)^{\frac{1}{4}}: The index is 44, so the denominator of the exponent is 44. The radicand 5z5z becomes the base raised to the 14\frac{1}{4} power. The coefficient 33 in front of the radical stays as a factor outside the exponential expression: 3(5z)143(5z)^{\frac{1}{4}}.

When the radicand is a product of multiple factors, parentheses are essential to indicate that the entire product — not just one factor — is raised to the fractional power. A coefficient that multiplies the radical from outside remains as a separate multiplier in the rational exponent form.

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Updated 2026-05-01

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