9514 1404 393
Answer:
either
Explanation:
They could represent either:
2^2 = 4 . . . a rational number
2^(1/2) = √2 . . . an irrational number
The fact that a number has an exponent does not make it either rational or irrational.
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Additional comment
You can also consider irrational numbers with exponents.
(∛2)^2 = 2^(2/3) . . . irrational
(√2)^2 = 2^1 . . . . . . rational