In Exercises 39–54, rewrite each expression with a positive rational exponent. Simplify, if possible. 27^-⅓

Key Concepts

Negative Exponents

A negative exponent indicates the reciprocal of the base raised to the absolute value of the exponent. For example, a term like a^-n can be rewritten as 1/a^n. This concept is essential for transforming expressions with negative exponents into a more manageable form.

Rational Exponents

Rational exponents express roots in exponential form. An exponent of the form 1/n indicates the nth root of a number. For instance, a^(1/n) is equivalent to the nth root of a. Understanding this concept allows for rewriting expressions involving roots as exponents, facilitating simplification.

Simplification of Exponents

Simplification involves reducing expressions to their simplest form, often by combining like terms or applying exponent rules. This includes using properties such as a^m * a^n = a^(m+n) and (a^m)^n = a^(m*n). Mastery of these rules is crucial for effectively simplifying expressions with exponents.