Introduction

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this chapter, you should be able to

• Identify the number set(s) that a given number belongs to
• Determine prime factors, square roots, and cube roots
• Simplify powers with whole, integral, and rational exponents

Unit Overview

In this unit, you will learn about number systems, radicals, and exponents. You will learn how to evaluate and simplify radicals, simplify expressions involving integral and fractional exponents, and apply some of these skills to real-world application problems. We will explore a few key areas where these topics appear in real life, though there are countless situations where these concepts are used to model real-world situations. For example, radicals are used in architecture and construction to find diagonal side lengths. Radicals are also used in medicine to calculate some drug dosages. Exponents are used in environmental sciences to model the decay of certain pollutants in an environment, as well as in finance to model and calculate interest over time.