How To: Understand fractional exponents

In this tutorial, we learn how to understand fractional exponents. Starting with an example, let's say you have the square root of four as an equation. The answer to this is two. A fractional exponent is not much different than this problem. Let's say you have 4 to the 1/2 power. This would be equal to (2 squared) 1/2. Now, using the third exponent law, the term becomes 2 to the power of two x 1/2. This will leave you with the answer of two. Now you know how to get the correct answer and can conclude that the root sign is the same as the exponent 1/2.