Solve the Square Root Expression: Simplifying √(11x²)

Question

Solve the following exercise:

11x2= \sqrt{11x^2}=

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to simplify the given expression, we will use the following three laws of exponents:

a. Definition of root as an exponent:

an=a1n \sqrt[n]{a}=a^{\frac{1}{n}}

b. Law of exponents for an exponent applied to terms in parentheses:

(ab)n=anbn (a\cdot b)^n=a^n\cdot b^n

c. Law of exponents for an exponent raised to an exponent:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n}

Let's start with converting the fourth root to an exponent using the law of exponents mentioned in a:

11x2=(11x2)12= \sqrt{11x^2}= \\ \downarrow\\ (11x^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}=

Next, we'll use the law of exponents mentioned in b and apply the exponent to each term in the parentheses:

(11x2)12=1112(x2)12 (11x^2)^{\frac{1}{2}}= \\ 11^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot(x^2)^{{\frac{1}{2}}}

Let's continue, using the law of exponents mentioned in c and perform the exponent applied to the term with an exponent in parentheses (the second term in the multiplication):

1112(x2)12=1112x212=1112x1=11x 11^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot(x^2)^{{\frac{1}{2}}} = \\ 11^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot x^{2\cdot\frac{1}{2}}=\\ 11^{\frac{1}{2}}\cdot x^{1}=\\ \boxed{\sqrt{11} x}\\ In the final step, we converted the one-half exponent applied to the first term in the multiplication back to a fourth root, again, according to the definition of root as an exponent mentioned in a (in the reverse direction).

Therefore, the correct answer is answer c.

Answer

11x \sqrt{11}x