standard_description: Explain how the definition of the meaning of rational exponents follows from extending the properties of integer exponents to those values, allowing for a notation for radicals in terms of rational exponents. For example, we define 5^(1/3) to be the cube root of 5 because we want (5^(1/3))^(3) = 5(^(1/3))^(3) to hold, so (5^(1/3))^(3) must equal 5.
problem_activity: Provide a written explanation for each question below.
a.   Is it true that
$${\left(1000^{1\over3}\right)^3=(1000^3)^{1\over3}}$$
? Explain or show how you know.
b.   Is it true that
$${\left(4^{1\over2}\right)^3=(4^3)^{1\over2}}$$
? Explain or show how you know.
c.   Suppose that
$$m$$
and
$$n$$
are positive integers and
$$b$$
is a real number so that the principal
$$n^{th}$$
root of
$$b$$
exists. In general, does
$$\left(b^{1\over n}\right)^m=(b^m)^{1\over n}$$
? Explain or show how you know.


aligns: no