Mathematics

Fractional exponents are really just another way to write roots and powers together. The key insight is to rewrite both 16 and 8 as powers of the same base—here, 2—so the exponent rules do the heavy lifting for you. Once everything is in terms of $2^n$, you can combine the exponents and simplify.

Fractional exponents are really just another way to write roots and powers together. The key insight is to rewrite both 16 and 8 as powers of the same base—here, 2—so the exponent rules do the heavy lifting for you. Once everything is in terms of $2^n$, you can combine the exponents and simplify.