Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
This term refers to an expression where x is raised to the power of 3/2 (also known as square root). In other words, it represents taking the square root of x and then raising it to the power of 3.
Related terms
Exponent: An exponent indicates repeated multiplication of a number by itself. In this case, the exponent 3/2 means taking both square root (√) and cube (^3).
The power rule is a calculus technique used to find derivatives of functions involving exponents. It states that if you have a variable raised to a constant power, you can bring down the exponent as a coefficient and decrease the power by 1.
Rational Exponent: A rational exponent is an exponent expressed as a fraction. It represents taking both roots (numerator) and powers (denominator) of a number.