Mathematics

The key is understanding how fractional exponents work: $a^{3/2}$ means "take the square root of $a$, then cube it" (or equivalently, cube first then take the square root). You need to recognize which expressions are equivalent to this—like $(\sqrt{a})^3$ or $\sqrt{a^3}$—and spot the one that breaks the pattern, perhaps by having the exponent inverted or the operations in a misleading form.

The key is understanding how fractional exponents work: $a^{3/2}$ means "take the square root of $a$, then cube it" (or equivalently, cube first then take the square root). You need to recognize which expressions are equivalent to this—like $(\sqrt{a})^3$ or $\sqrt{a^3}$—and spot the one that breaks the pattern, perhaps by having the exponent inverted or the operations in a misleading form.