Question

A student simplified the rational expression

using the steps shown.

Is the answer correct? Explain.

Answer 1

Step-by-step explanation & Answer

No, the answer is not correct

In the second step, the student did not use the quotient of powers property correctly. Instead, they should have subtracted inside the parentheses instead of dividing. This would have left them with
`x^{((4)/(5) )}`. They should have then multiplied this power by
`^{(1)/(2) }` resulting in
`x^{((4)/(10))}` which simplified is
`x^{((2)/(5)) }` which is the correct answer.

That is just an example on how the answer is done.