R2

course Mth 158

6/1 9

If your solution to stated problem does not match the given solution, you should self-critique per instructions at http://vhcc2.vhcc.edu/dsmith/geninfo/labrynth_created_fall_05/levl1_22/levl2_81/file3_259.htm.

Your solution, attempt at solution:

If you are unable to attempt a solution, give a phrase-by-phrase interpretation of the problem along with a statement of what you do or do not understand about it. This response should be given, based on the work you did in completing the assignment, before you look at the given solution.

002. `* 2

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Question: * R.2.46 (was R.2.36) Evaluate for x = -2, and y = 3 the expression (2x - 3) / y and explain how you got your result.

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Your solution:

2(-2) – 3 = 2(-2)= -4 – 3= -7

-----------

(3)= 3

=-7/3

I obtained this solution by substituting x for -2 and y for -3. By working the problem from left to right it is easily noticeable that the numerator is -7, as the denominator is positive 3.

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with (2x-3)/y we substitute x=-2 and y=3 to get

(2*(-2) - 3)/3 =

(-4-3)/3=

-7/3. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Question: * R.2. 55 (was R.2.45) Evaluate for x = 3 and y = -2: | |4x| - |5y| | and explain how you got your result.

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Your solution:

| |4x| - |5y| |

I will substitute x for 3 and y for -2.

| |4(3)=12| - |5(-2)=-10| |= |12| + |10|= absolute value of 2 difference.

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with | | 4x |- | 5y | | we substitute x=3 and y=-2 to get

| | 4*3 | - | 5*-2 | | =

| | 12 | + | +10 | | =

| 12-10 | =

| 2 | =

2. **

* R.2.64 (was R.2.54) Explain what values, if any, cannot be present in the domain of the expression (-9x^2 - x + 1) / (x^3 + x)

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Your solution:

(-9x^2 - x + 1)

------------------------

(x^3 + x)

(-9(0)=0^2=0 - 0 + 1=1)=1

---------------------------

(0^3 + 0)= 0

X cannot equal zero.

confidence rating #$&* 3

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Given Solution:

* * ** The denominator of this expression cannot be zero, since division by zero is undefined.

Since x^3 + x factors into (x^2 + 1) ( x ) we see that x^3 + x = 0 is, and only if, either x^2 + 1 = 0 or x = 0.

Since x^2 cannot be negative x^2 + 1 cannot be 0, so x = 0 is indeed the only value for which x^3 + x = 0. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):OK

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Question:

* R.2.76 \ 73 (was R.4.6). What is -4^-2 and how did you use the laws of exponents to get your result?

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Your solution:

-4^-2= 1/16

we achieve this solution by squaring only the 4 (not the -)

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

* * ** order of operations implies exponentiation before multiplication; the - in front of the 4 is not part of the 4 but is an implicit multiplication by -1. Thus only 4 is raised to the -2 power.

Starting with the expression -4^(-2):

Since a^-b = 1 / (a^b), we have

4^-2 = 1 / (4)^2 = 1 / 16.

The - in front then gives us -4^(-2) = - ( 1/ 16) = -1/16.

If the intent was to take -4 to the -2 power the expression would have been written (-4)^(-2).**

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I left out the multiplication. I should have followed PEMDAS.

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Self-critique rating #$&*ok

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Question:

* Extra Problem. What is (3^-2 * 5^3) / (3^2 * 5) and how did you use the laws of exponents to get your result?

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Your solution:

(3^-2=1/9 * 5^3=125= 125/9) / (3^2=9 * 5=45)= 25/81

I used the law of PEMDAS to achieve the result.

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

Starting with (3^(-2)*5^3)/(3^2*5):

Grouping factors with like bases we have

3^(-2)/3^2 * 5^3 / 5. Using the fact that a^b / a^c = a^(b-c) we get

3^(-2 -2) * 5^(3-1), which gives us

3^-4 * 5^2. Using a^(-b) = 1 / a^b we get

(1/3^4) * 5^2. Simplifying we have

(1/81) * 25 = 25/81. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

Obviously, I was unsure on the rules of exponents so I plugged the numbers into my calculator. I did cover the material- and have just simply had not been forced to use it until no- although, I am now able to understand the ideas of the laws of exponents after reading the provided solution.

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Question:

* R.2.94. Express [ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

[ 5^ -3 x^-2 ]

------------------ ^ -3

[ (6^ -3 y^-2) ]

If one follows PEMDAS he will find that -3 multiplied b -2 (the exponents) yields positive 6 in the numerator as well as the denominator. Then if you flop the denominator with the numerator you end with all positives.

[ 5^ -3 x^6 ] [ (6^3 y^6) ]

--------------- = ------------

[ (6^ -3 y^6) ] [ 5^ 3 x^6 ]

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

[ 5 x^-2 / (6 y^-2) ] ^ -3 = (5 x^-2)^-3 / (6 y^-2)^-3, since (a/b)^c = a^c / b^c. This simplifies to

5^-3 (x^-2)^-3 / [ 6^-3 (y^-2)^-3 ] since (ab)^c = a^c b^c. Then since (a^b)^c = a^(bc) we have

5^-3 x^6 / [ 6^-3 y^6 ] . We rearrange this to get the result

6^3 x^6 / (5^3 y^6), since a^-b = 1 / a^b.

STUDENT QUESTION:

I do not see how you can take and seperate the problem down like this has it seems to just have reversed the problem

around in a different ordering and I do not see how this changed the exponets from being negative

Is there anyway you can explain this problem in a little more depth

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE:

A fundamental law of exponents is that exponentiation distributes over multiplication, so that

(a * b) ^ c = a^c * b^c and

(a / b) ^ c = a^c / b^c

More specifically, if c = -3 then we have

( a * b ) ^ (-3) = a * (-3) * b^(-3) and

( a / b ) ^ (-3) = a ^ (-3) / b^(-3).

Now

a ^ (3) / b^(3) = 1 / a ^ (3) / (1 / b^(3)) and

1 / a ^ (3) / (1 / b^(3)) = 1 / a^3 * (b^3 / 1) = b^3 / a^3.

This principle applies to any string of multiplcations and division, so for example

( a * b / (c * d) ) ^ e = a^e * b^e / (c^e * d^e).

If e = -3 then we would have

( a * b / (c * d) ) ^ (-3) = a^(-3) * b^(-3) / (c^(-3) * d^(-3)).

Since the -3 power is the reciprocal of the 3 power this expression becomes

1/a^(3) * (1/b^(3)) / (1/c^(3) * (1/d^(3))), which is easily seen to be equal to

1 / (a^3 * b^3) / (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ).

Dividing by (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ) is the same as multiplying by (c^3 * d^3) / 1 so

1 / (a^3 * b^3) / (1 / (c^3 * d^3) ) = 1 / (a^3 * b^3) * (c^3 * d^3) = (c^3 * d^3) / (a^3 * b^3).

You should have written the above expressions, which are difficult to read in this notation, on paper, applying the order of operations. The expressions you wrote down should look like the ones below. Be sure you understand the translation from the 'typewriter notation' above to the standard notation depicted below, and be sure you know how to write each of the expressions depicted below in standard notation:

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Self-critique (if necessary):ok

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Self-critique rating #$&*

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Question:

* Extra Problem. Express (-8 x^3) ^ -2 with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

(-8 x^3) ^ -2

PEMADS

(-8^ -2= 64 x^3=x^ -6) ^ -2

64 x^ -6 **if you flip you end with positive results

64

--------

x^ 6

***I removed the parenthesis when I shouldn’t have. I see what I did wrong, and I’m clear on the understanding.

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

* * ** ERRONEOUS STUDENT SOLUTION:

(-8x^3)^-2

-1/(-8^2 * x^3+2)

1/64x^5

INSTRUCTOR COMMENT:

1/64x^5 means 1 / 64 * x^5 = x^5 / 64. This is not what you meant but it is the only correct interpretation of what you wrote.

Also it's not x^3 * x^2, which would be x^5, but (x^3)^2.

There are several ways to get the solution. Two ways are shown below. They make more sense if you write them out in standard notation.

ONE CORRECT SOLUTION:

(-8x^3)^-2 =

(-8)^-2*(x^3)^-2 =

1 / (-8)^2 * 1 / (x^3)^2 =

1/64 * 1/x^6 =

1 / (64 x^6).

Alternatively

(-8 x^3)^-2 =

1 / [ (-8 x^3)^2] =

1 / [ (-8)^2 (x^3)^2 ] =

1 / ( 64 x^6 ). **

* R.2.90 (was R.4.36). Express (x^-2 y) / (x y^2) with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

(x^-2 y)

---------

(x y^2)

if you divide (x^-2 y) by 1 and (x y^2) by one we will have a positive numerator (or in other words.. denominator)

1

----

(x^-2 y)

-----------

1

-----

(x y^2)

confidence rating #$&* 1

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Given Solution:

(1/x^2 * y) / (x * y^2)

= (1/x^2 * y) * 1 / (x * y^2)

= y * 1 / ( x^2 * x * y^2)

= y / (x^3 y^2)

= 1 / (x^3 y).

Alternatively, or as a check, you could use positive and negative exponents, then in the last step express everything in terms of positive exponents, as follows:

(x^-2y)/(xy^2)

= x^-2 * y * x^-1 * y^-2

= x^(-2 - 1) * y^(1 - 2)

= x^-3 y^-1

= 1 / (x^3 y).

STUDENT QUESTION

I wrote it down on paper and I am still a little confused. I understand it down to the 3rd step and then I lose the meaning of the law of exponents.

Why does it change to:

(1/x^2 * y) multiplied by 1/xy^2 the multiplication throws me off.

INSTRUCTOR RESPONSE

(1/x^2 * y) means ( (1/x^2) * y, which is the same as (y / x^2).

So (1/x^2 * y) / (x * y^2) means

(y / x^2) / (x * y^2).

Division by (x * y^2) is the same as multiplication by 1 / (x * y^2) .

So (y / x^2) / (x * y^2) means

(y / x^2) * (1 / (x * y^2)). Multiplying the numerators and denominators of these fractions we have

(y * 1) / (x^2 * x * y^2), which is

y / (x^3 * y^2). Dividing both numerator and denominator by y we have

1 / (x^2 * y).

Let me know if this doesn't help.

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I think I was on the right track I just finished the problem prematurely.

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Question:

* Extra Problem. . Express 4 x^-2 (y z)^-1 / [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5 ] with only positive exponents and explain how you used the laws of exponents to get your result.

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Your solution:

4 x^-2 (y z)^-1

---------------------- =

[ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5 ]

4 x^-2 y^-1 z^-1

---------------------- =

[ -25 x^-4 y^-2 z^-5 ]

You've changed the exponents in the denominator. If they stay in the denominator, they don't change. Having x^4 in the denominator, for example, is very different than having x^4 in the denominator.

z^(-5) in the denominator does end up as z^5 in the numerator, and your x, y and z terms from numerator do end up in the denominator. The reason goes back to the laws of exponents.

a^(-n) = 1 / a^n.

1 / (b^(-n)) = 1 / (1 / b^n) = 1 * b^n / 1, which is equal to b^n.

The way to do this without getting confused is to apply the laws of exponents, as indicated in the given solution.

You're on the right track. Just check out everything at every step using the laws of exponents.

(-5)^2 = 25, not -25, but otherwise OK.

[25 x^4 y^2 z^5 ]

--------------------------- =

4 x^2 y z

If one completes the processes (squares the 5 and follows through with the exponents on the y and z’s.

confidence rating #$&* 1

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Given Solution:

* * ** Starting with

4x^-2(yz)^-1/ [ (-5)^2 x^4 y^2 z^-5] Squaring the -5 and using the fact that (yz)^-1 = y^1 * z^-1:

4x^-2 * y^-1 * z^-1/ [25 * x^4 * y^2 * z^-5} Grouping the numbers, and the x, the y and the z expression:

(4/25) * (x^-2/x^4) * (y^-1/y^2) * (z^-1/z^-5) Simplifying by the laws of exponents:

(4/25) * x^(-2-4) * y^(-1-2) * z^(-1+5) Simplifying further:

(4/25) * x^-6 * y^-3 * z^4 Writing with positive exponents:

4z^4/ (25x^6 * y^3 ) **

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Self-critique (if necessary):

I need to do more work with the laws of exponents. I think I’m stuck on the single multiplying by the reciprocal. I understand how you solved the problem in your solution; however, I never seem to attempt to complete the problem with that method when I’m faced with it.

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Question:

* R.2.122 (was R.4.72). Express 0.00421 in scientific notation.

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Your solution:

4.21 * 10 raised to the negative 3. We find this by moving the decimal place to the right (which is negative) three spaces.

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Given Solution:

* * ** 0.00421 in scientific notation is 4.21*10^-3. This is expressed on many calculators as 4.21 E-4. **

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Self-critique (if necessary):OK

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Question:

* R.2.128 (was R.4.78). Express 9.7 * 10^3 in decimal notation.

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Your solution:

9700

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Given Solution:

* * ** 9.7*10^3 in decimal notation is 9.7 * 1000 = 9700 **

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Self-critique (if necessary):OK

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Question:

* R.2.152 \ 150 (was R.2.78) If an unhealthy temperature is one for which | T - 98.6 | > 1.5, then how do you show that T = 97 and T = 100 are unhealthy?

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Your solution:

T=97

t=100

|t-98.6| > 1.5

|97-98.6= -1.6| > 1.5

-1.6>1.5 unhealthy

|100 – 98.6= 1.4 > 1.5 discard. Is not correct.

confidence rating #$&* 2

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Given Solution:

* * ** You can show that T=97 is unhealthy by substituting 97 for T to get | -1.6| > 1.5, equivalent to the true statement 1.6>1.5.

But you can't show that T=100 is unhealthy, when you sustitute for T then it becomes | 100 - 98.6 | > 1.5, or

| 1.4 | > 1.5, giving us

1.4>1.5, which is an untrue statement. **

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Self-critique (if necessary): OK

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Self-critique rating #$&*

"

Good overall, but you have some degree of confusion with laws of exponents. You're getting a lot of that right, but making some errors as well.

&#Your work looks good. See my notes. Let me know if you have any questions. &#