Name: Fractional exponents: solution walkthrough
Uploaded: 2026-11-13
Duration: 1 min 24 s
Description: Fractional exponents: What is the value of 16³/4? Try it, then watch the animated solution.

In a fraction exponent, the bottom number is a root and the top number is a power.

A fourth root asks for four equal factors:

16 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 2

.

The fourth root keeps one of the four equal factors:

16^{1/4} = \sqrt[4]{16} = 2

.

The top number

3

uses three of those factors:

2^3 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 = 8

.

Traps:

12

multiplies

16

by

\tfrac34

,

6

is

2 \times 3

instead of

2^3

, and

64

uses a square root.

Try it first