Exponential functions?

Question

how do you compute and simplify...
x^1/2(5x^3/2 + 9x^-1/2)

thanks

Answer 1

Hynton has it. Just remember that you'll be restricted to x > 0 because of the original form of the problem.

Answer 2

First remove parentheses. That means you multiply x^(1/2) by each of the two terms inside. Use the rule for multiplying powers of the same base (x in this case): add the indices (exponents) and keep the same base. The first term becomes
5 x^(3/2 + 1/2) and the second is
9 x^(-1/2 + 1/2)

I leave you to finish it yourself, but remember that x^0 = 1.
PS I hope you get a different answer than the first answerer got! She's right about the square root, but still got the wrong answer.

Answer 3

ok well, the square root of x times the square root of x equals x.

And x to the power of 1/2 is just another way to write the square root of x.

So you get 5x^3 + 9x I think.