# Problem with fractional exponents

The problem as given: $(4m^3n)^\frac{1}{4} \times (8mn^3)^\frac{1}{2}$

distributed the exponted threw.

$(4^{1/4}m^{3/4}n^{1/4})(8^{1/2}m^{1/2}n^{3/2})$

Then because $a^na^m = a^{n+m} \; \& \; a^{n}b^{n} = (ab)^n$

$(2^2)^{1/4} (8^{1/2})(m^{3/4 + 1/2})( n^{1/4+6/4}) = 16^{1/2}(m^{5/4})n^{7/4}$

am I correct?

edited to fix mistake pointed out by "Old John"

-
Almost right - at one point you seem to have replaced $3/2$ with $3/4$ instead of $6/4$, but I think that is the only error. –  Old John Aug 29 '12 at 10:21
you are right,also you can do $8=2^3$ so you take everything with base $2$ –  dato datuashvili Aug 29 '12 at 10:23
Very nearly there! in the line where you have $n^{1/4 + 3/4}$, should that not be $n^{1/4 + 6/4}$, giving $n^{7/4}$ in the final answer? –  Old John Aug 29 '12 at 10:41
A possibly useful tip for these things: If you are unsure of an answer, try evaluating the original expression and your answer with some values for $m, n$ using a calculator. If they agree you might be right, but if they disagree, you must be wrong :) –  Old John Aug 29 '12 at 10:49
"exponted threw"? Looks OK, but you can simplify $16^{1/2}$. –  Gerry Myerson Aug 29 '12 at 13:15
show 1 more comment

As pointed out in the comments, your answer looks good. The one thing I would change is that I would replace $16^{1/2}$ with $\sqrt{16}=4$, giving you: $$4m^{5/4}n^{7/4}$$