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Secondary education

Maths question

20 replies

bkgirl · 07/03/2016 17:23

Hiya son is confused and I am hopeless at maths.

If anyone would mind telling us....
The square root of x multiplied by the square root of x cubed?

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Redroses11 · 07/03/2016 17:29

x to the power of 4?

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Redroses11 · 07/03/2016 17:30

To me, it would read something like this

(x/x)*(x/x)cubed.

But, it is a LONG LONG time since I did maths!

Hopefully a more intelligent person shall be along shortly.

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imelda3 · 07/03/2016 17:32

We think it would be x to the power of 5 - when you are multiplying numbers "to the power of " you add up the to the power of numbers (when dividing you minus them). Think that's right!

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imelda3 · 07/03/2016 17:33

Actually ignore that - clearly wrong as that's not what you are asking....... Sorry!

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PetraDelphiki · 07/03/2016 17:34

I think it's x2... means to the power of

Square root of x is x^1/2
Square root of x3 is x times x1/2

So you have x times x1/2 times x1/2 which gives you x^2

Or you could go with root(x) times root(x3) is the same as root(x times x3) dames as root (x4) which is x2

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Turbinaria · 07/03/2016 17:34

Square root of x multiplied by square root of (x cubed) is:

X1/2 . X3/2 = X4/2 = X2 , so answer is x squared

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Redroses11 · 07/03/2016 17:35

I'm curious now!

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contortionist · 07/03/2016 17:35

(Plus or minus) X squared.
Root of a times root of b equals root of a times b

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Redroses11 · 07/03/2016 17:36

Ok, well, that has sufficiently confused me now! Grin

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GinandJag · 07/03/2016 17:36

X(1/2) * X(3/2)

= X^(4/2)

= X^2, or X-squared

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PreAdvent13610 · 07/03/2016 17:37

Can you post a photo of the question please

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SallyGardens · 07/03/2016 17:38

When multiplying, you add the powers if the base number is the same so the sum would look like this, where ^ means "to the power of" and * means "multiply" (to avoid confusion between Xs).

X0.5 * (X3)^0.5

X0.5 * X3.5

X^4

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SallyGardens · 07/03/2016 17:39

Now I'm confused too - ignore what I what I said.

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mineofuselessinformation · 07/03/2016 17:40

Gin's right.

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Turbinaria · 07/03/2016 17:45

contortionist has the compete answer, noting that square root can be plus or minus.

Surely extra marks for your child if they submit that Smile

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bkgirl · 07/03/2016 18:57

OMG I just came back after cooking dinner - what absolute stars you are!!! Thank you so much :) I will indeed post a photo as well but really, you are all amazing.

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noblegiraffe · 07/03/2016 19:03

Surely just x^2. Where does the plus or minus come from?

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Bolognese · 07/03/2016 21:37

Actually the question is ambiguous: The square root of x multiplied by the square root of x cubed?

It could be either:

a) [ X(1/2) * X(12) ] ^3

or

b) X(1/2) * [ X(12) ] ^3

The answer to

a) is (+/-) x^3

and

b) is (+/-) x^2

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Bolognese · 07/03/2016 21:43

Or indeed option c) I posted to quick sorry

c) [ X(1/2) * X3(1^2) ]

With the answer then being

c) (+/-) x^2

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Bolognese · 07/03/2016 22:28

Actually given the wording in the op it could even be

d) { X * X(1/2) } 3 = (+/-) x2.25

e) [ X * X(12)3 ] (1/2) = (+/-) x1.25

f) [ X * X3(12) ] (1/2) = (+/-) x1.25

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