3.

5 Exponents and Order of Operations; Complex Fractions

Since exponents represent repeated multiplication, we are in a position to compute exponents for
2
! 1$
fractions, mixed numbers, and decimals. For example, to compute # 1 & , we first convert to
" 3%
fractions, compute the multiplication, then convert back to mixed form. The steps are:

2 2
! 1$ ! 4$
#" 1 &% = #" &% converting to fraction form
3 3
4 4
= • writing out the exponent
3 3
16
= multiplying fractions
9
7
=1 converting to mixed number
9

Example 1 Compute the following exponents.

3
" 3%
a. $# ! '&
4
2
" 1%
b. $# !2 '&
4
c. ( 0.5 )3
d. ( !1.4 )2
Solution a. Computing the exponent:
3
" 3% " 3% " 3% " 3%
$# ! '& = $# ! '& • $# ! '& • $# ! '& writing out the exponent
4 4 4 4
27
=! multiplying fractions
64

200
 b. Computing the exponent:
2 2
" 1% " 9%
$# !2 ' = $# ! ' converting to fraction form
4& 4&
" 9% " 9%
= $! ' •$! ' writing out the exponent
# 4& # 4&
81
= multiplying fractions
16
1
=5 converting to mixed number
16

c. Computing the exponent:

( 0.5 )3 = ( 0.5 ) • ( 0.5 ) • ( 0.5 ) writing out the exponent
= 0.125 multiplying decimals

d. Computing the exponent:

( !1.4 )2 = ( !1.4 ) • ( !1.4 ) writing out the exponent
= 1.96 multiplying decimals

Another type of exponent problem involved with fractions is that of repeated exponents.
Consider the problem:
3 2
! 2$ ! 3$
#" &% #" &%
3 4

We could apply the order of operations to this, computing the exponents first, and then the
multiplication. However, consider the approach of writing out the exponents. That is:

3 2
! 2$ ! 3$ 2 2 2 3 3
#" &% #" &% = • • • •
3 4 3 3 3 4 4

201
If we now factor to primes and cancel, we have:

3 2
! 2$ ! 3$ 2 2 2 3 3
#" &% #" &% = • • • •
3 4 3 3 3 4 4
2 2 2 3 3
= • • • •
3 3 3 2•2 2•2
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 3/ • 3/
=
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2 • 3 • 3/ • 3/
1
=
6

The only multiplication to perform is in the final step, after all simplifying has been done.

Example 2 Simplify the following exponents.

3 2
! 3$ ! 5 $
a. #" &% #" &%
5 6
2 4
! 8$ ! 3$
b. #" &% #" &%
9 4
2 3
! 5$ ! 8$
c. #" &% #" &%
12 15
2 2
! 5x $ ! 8x $
d. #" 6y &% #" 15y &%

202
Solution a. Writing out the exponents and simplifying:
3 2
! 3$ ! 5 $ 3 3 3 5 5
#" &% #" &% = • • • • writing out the exponents
5 6 5 5 5 6 6
3 3 3 5 5
= • • • • prime factorizations
5 5 5 2•3 2•3
3 • 3/ • 3/ • 5/ • 5/
= cancelling factors
2 • 2 • 3/ • 3/ • 5 • 5/ • 5/
3
= simplifying
20

b. Writing out the exponents and simplifying:

2 4
! 8$ ! 3$
#" &% #" &%
9 4
8 8 3 3 3 3
= • • • • • writing out the exponents
9 9 4 4 4 4
2•2•2 2•2•2 3 3 3 3
= • • • • • prime factorizations
3• 3 3• 3 2•2 2•2 2•2 2•2
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 3/ • 3/ • 3/ • 3/
= cancelling factors
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2 • 2 • 3/ • 3/ • 3/ • 3/
1
= simplifying
4

c. Writing out the exponents and simplifying:

2 3
! 5$ ! 8$
#" &% #" &%
12 15
5 5 8 8 8
= • • • • writing out the exponents
12 12 15 15 15
5 5 2•2•2 2•2•2 2•2•2
= • • • • prime factorizations
2•2•3 2•2•3 3• 5 3• 5 3• 5
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 • 5/ • 5/
= cancelling factors
2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 2/ • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 5 • 5/ • 5/
32
= simplifying
1215

203
 d. Writing out the exponents and simplifying:
2 2
! 5x $ ! 8x $
#" 6y &% #" 15y &%
5x 5x 8x 8x
= • • • writing out the exponents
6y 6y 15y 15y
5•x 5•x 2•2•2•x 2•2•2•x
= • • • prime factorizations
2 • 3• y 2 • 3• y 3• 5 • y 3• 5 • y
2/ • 2/ • 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 • 5/ • 5/ • x • x • x • x
= cancelling factors
2/ • 2/ • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 5/ • 5/ • y • y • y • y
2•2•2•2•x•x•x•x
= remaining factors
3• 3• 3• 3• y • y • y • y
16x 4
= simplifying
81y 4

We now turn our attention to order of operations problems involving fractions. Recall the order
of operations agreement from Chapter 1:

Order of Operations

1. First compute all parentheses.

2. Compute all exponents next.
3. Compute all multiplications and divisions (working left to right).
4. Compute all additions and subtractions (working left to right).

Except for the fact that the steps in each problem may take a little longer, the problems are
generally of the same form.

204
Example 3 Compute the following expressions.

1 1 2
a. ! •
4 2 3
" 1 1% 2
b. $# ! '& •
4 2 3
2
5 " 2%
c. !$ '
6 # 3&
2
1 " 1 1%
d. !$ ! '
12 # 6 2 &

Solution a. First compute the multiplication:

1 2 1 • 2/ 1
• = =
2 3 2/ • 3 3
The problem then becomes a subtraction:
1 1 2 1 1
! • = !
4 2 3 4 3
1 3 1 4
= • ! •
4 3 3 4
3 4
= !
12 12
1
=!
12

b. First compute the subtraction within the parentheses:

1 1 1 1 2
! = ! •
4 2 4 2 2
1 2
= !
4 4
1
=!
4

205
 The problem then becomes a multiplication:
" 1 1% 2 1 2
$# ! '& • = ! •
4 2 3 4 3
1 2
=! •
2•2 3
1 • 2/
=!
2/ • 2 • 3
1
=!
2•3
1
=!
6

c. First compute the exponent:

2
! 2$ 2 2 4
#" &% = • =
3 3 3 9
The problem then becomes a subtraction:
2
5 " 2% 5 4
!$ ' = !
6 # 3& 6 9
5 3 4 2
= • ! •
6 3 9 2
15 8
= !
18 18
7
=
18

d. First compute the subtraction within the parentheses:

1 1 1 1 3
! = ! •
6 2 6 2 3
1 3
= !
6 6
2
=!
6
1 • 2/
=!
2/ • 3
1
=!
3

206
 Thus the problem becomes:
2 2
1 " 1 1% 1 " 1%
!$ ! ' = ! $! '
12 # 6 2 & 12 # 3 &
Now computing the exponent:
2
" 1% " 1% " 1% 1
$# ! '& = $# ! '& • $# ! '& =
3 3 3 9
Now computing the subtraction:
2
1 " 1% 1 1
! $! ' = !
12 # 3 & 12 9
1 3 1 4
= • ! •
12 3 9 4
3 4
= !
36 36
1
=!
36

Order of operations also applies to mixed numbers, as the next example illustrates.

Example 4 Compute the following expressions. Answer using mixed numbers.

1 1 1
a. 2 !1 • 3
3 2 3
" 1 1% 1
b. $# 2 ! 1 '& • 3
3 2 3
" 1 2% " 1 1%
c. $# 3 ! 1 '& • $# 5 ! 2 '&
4 3 3 2
2 2
! 3$ ! 1$
d. #" 2 &% ' #" 3 &%
4 2

207
Solution a. First compute the multiplication (remember to convert to fractions first):
1 1 3 10
1 •3 = •
2 3 2 3
3 2•5
= •
2 3
2/ • 3/ • 5
=
2/ • 3/
=5
The problem then becomes a subtraction:
1 1 1 1
2 !1 • 3 = 2 ! 5
3 2 3 3
7 5 3
= ! •
3 1 3
7 15
= !
3 3
8
=!
3
2
= !2
3

b. First compute the subtraction within the parentheses:

1 1 7 3
2 !1 = !
3 2 3 2
7 2 3 3
= • ! •
3 2 2 3
14 9
= !
6 6
5
=
6

208
 The problem then becomes a multiplication:
" 1 1% 1 5 1
$# 2 ! 1 '& • 3 = • 3
3 2 3 6 3
5 10
= •
6 3
5 2•5
= •
2•3 3
2/ • 5 • 5
=
2/ • 3 • 3
25
=
9
7
=2
9

c. First compute the subtractions within each parentheses:

1 2 13 5 1 1 16 5
3 !1 = ! 5 !2 = !
4 3 4 3 3 2 3 2
13 3 5 4 16 2 5 3
= • ! • = • ! •
4 3 3 4 3 2 2 3
39 20 32 15
= ! = !
12 12 6 6
19 17
= =
12 6
The problem then becomes a multiplication:
" 1 2% " 1 1 % 19 17
$# 3 ! 1 '& • $# 5 ! 2 '& = •
4 3 3 2 12 6
323
=
72
35
=4
72

209
 d. First compute the exponents:
2 2
! 3$ ! 11 $ 11 11 121
#" 2 &% = #" &% = • =
4 4 4 4 16
2 2
! 1$ ! 7$ 7 7 49
#" 3 &% = #" &% = • =
2 2 2 2 4
The problem then becomes a subtraction:
2 2
! 3$ ! 1$ 121 49
#" 2 &% ' #" 3 &% = '
4 2 16 4
121 49 4
= ' •
16 4 4
121 196
= '
16 16
75
='
16
11
= '4
16

A particular type of fraction is called a complex fraction. A complex fraction is a “fraction

3 1 3
+3
within a fraction”, such as 4 or 3 . Let’s start with the fraction 4 . One approach in
2 5 2
3 6 3
simplifying this fraction is to interpret it as division, then convert to a multiplication problem.
The steps are:

3
4 = 3÷2 writing as division
2 4 3
3
3 3
= • converting to multiplication
4 2
9 1
= or 1 multiplying fractions
8 8

210
There is a second approach to use for this problem. The LCM for 3 and 4 is 12, so we multiply
12
the numerator and denominator by the form of 1 which is (just as if we were building the
12
fraction). The steps are:

3 3
• 12 12
4 = 4 multiplying by
2 2 12
• 12
3 3
3• 3
= simplifying (cancelling)
2•4
9
= simplifying fractions
8

This second approach is generally easier to apply, especially with more complicated fractions.
Applying this same approach with the second fraction:

1 !1 $
+ 3 #" + 3 &% • 6 6
3 3
= multiplying by
5 5 6
•6
6 6
1
• 6 + 3• 6
= 3 distributive property
30
6
2 + 18
= computing
5
20
= simplifying
5
=4 simplifying

We will use this second approach for the next example.

211
Example 5 Simplify the following complex fractions.

5
a. 6
7
12
2
4+
b. 3
5
12
3 5
+
c. 4 6
2
2!
3
1 1
1 +2
d. 2 3
4 1
3 !1
5 6

12
Solution a. Multiplying by and simplifying the resulting fraction:
12
5 5
• 12 12
6 = 6 multiplying by
7 7 12
• 12
12 12
5•2
= simplifying (cancelling)
7 •1
10
= simplifying fractions
7

212
 12
b. Multiplying by and simplifying the resulting fraction:
12
2 ! 2$
4+ #" 4 + &% • 12 12
3= 3
multiplying by
5 5 12
• 12
12 12
2
4 • 12 + • 12
= 3 distributive property
5 •1
48 + 8
= simplifying fractions
5
56
= simplifying
5

12
c. Multiplying by and simplifying the resulting fraction:
12
3 5 " 3 5%
+ $# + '& • 12 12
4 6 4 6
= multiplying by
2!
2 " 2% 12
3 $# 2 ! '& • 12
3
3 5
• 12 + • 12
= 4 6 distributive property
2
2 • 12 ! • 12
3
3• 3+ 5 • 2
= simplifying fractions
24 ! 2 • 4
9 + 10
= multiplying
24 ! 8
19
= simplifying
16

213
 30
d. Multiplying by and simplifying the resulting fraction (first convert
30
mixed numbers to fractions):
1 1 3 7
1 +2 +
2 3 = 2 3 converting to fractions
4 1 19 7
3 !1 !
5 6 5 6
" 3 7%
$# + '& • 30 30
2 3
= multiplying by
" 19 7 % 30
$# ! ' • 30
5 6&
3 7
• 30 + • 30
= 2 3 distributive property
19 7
• 30 ! • 30
5 6
3 • 15 + 7 • 10
= simplifying fractions
19 • 6 ! 7 • 5
45 + 70
= multiplying
114 ! 35
115
= simplifying
79

214
 1 1 5
Example 6 Find the average of 2 , 3 , and 4 .
3 2 6

Solution Recall that the average of a group of numbers is the sum of those numbers
divided by the amount of numbers. To find the sum of these three mixed
numbers, first add their fractional portions:
1 1 5 1 2 1 3 5
+ + = • + • +
3 2 6 3 2 2 3 6
2 3 5
= + +
6 6 6
10
=
6
2/ • 5
=
2/ • 3
5
=
3
2
=1
3
Therefore the sum is given by:
1 1 5 2 2
2 + 3 + 4 = 9 + 1 = 10
3 2 6 3 3
Thus, the average of the three numbers is given by the complex fraction:
1 1 5 2
2 +3 +4 10
3 2 6 = 3 computing the sum
3 3
32
= 3 writing as a fraction
3
32
•3 3
= 3 multiplying by
3• 3 3
32
= simplifying
9
5
=3 converting to mixed number
9

215
We conclude this section with order of operations with decimals. The rules are identical to those
with fractions and mixed numbers.

Example 7 Compute the following expressions.

a. 13.2 ! (5.4)(3.7)
b. 4.06 ! (1.4)2
c. (4.06 ! 1.4)2
d. (3.5 ! 8)(4 ! 8.6)

Solution a. Computing using the order of operations:

13.2 ! (5.4)(3.7) = 13.2 ! 19.98 multiplying decimals
= 13.2 + (!19.98) writing subtraction as addition
= !6.78 adding decimals

b. Computing using the order of operations:

4.06 ! (1.4)2 = 4.06 ! 1.96 computing the exponent
= 2.1 subtracting decimals

c. Computing using the order of operations:

(4.06 ! 1.4)2 = (2.66)2 subtracting decimals
= 7.0756 computing the exponent

d. Computing using the order of operations:

(3.5 ! 8)(4 ! 8.6) = ( 3.5 + (!8)) ( 4 + (!8.6)) writing as addition
= (!4.5)(!4.6) adding decimals
= 20.7 multiplying decimals

Terminology

order of operations complex fractions

216
 Exercise Set 3.5

Compute the following exponents.

2 2
" 2% " 4%
1. $# ! '& 2. $# ! '&
5 7
3 3
" 3% " 5%
3. $# ! '& 4. $# ! '&
5 8
2 2
" 4% " 5%
5. !$ ' 6. !$ '
# 5& # 6&
2 2
" 2% " 1%
7. $# !3 '& 8. $# !5 '&
3 4
3 3
" 1% " 1%
9. $# !1 '& 10. $ !2 '
# 2&
3
11. (0.2)3 12. (!0.3)3
13. (!1.3)2 14. (!1.1)2
15. !0.8 2 16. !1.2 2

Simplify the following exponents.

2 3 3 2
! 3$ ! 2$ ! 3$ ! 4 $
17. # & # & 18. # & # &
" 4 % " 3% " 4% " 5%
3 2 3 2
! 9 $ ! 7$ ! 5$ ! 4$
19. # & # & 20. # & # &
" 14 % " 9 % " 6% " 5%
2 3 3 2
! 4 $ ! 3$ ! 5$ ! 8$
21. # & # & 22. # & # &
" 9% " 8% " 12 % " 15 %
3 2
! x $ ! 4y $ ! 3x $ ! 4y $
2 2

23. # & # & 24. # & # &

" 2y % " x % " 2y % " 9x %
2 2 3 2
! 2b $ ! 9a $ ! 4b $ ! 15a $
25. # & # & 26. # & #
" 3a % " 8b % " 5a % " 16b &%

217
Compute the following expressions. Express your answers as fractions.

3 1 2 3 1 3
27. ! • 28. ! •
8 8 3 5 6 4
3 1 6 3 5 6
29. ! • 30. ! •
7 12 7 4 8 11
" 1 1% 2 " 3 7% 4
31. $ ! ' • 32. $ ! ' •
# 8 3& 5 # 4 8 & 13
"1 7 % " 8 % "1 5 % " 7%
33. $ ! ' • $ ! ' 34. $ ! ' •$! '
# 5 10 & # 15 & # 7 14 & # 12 &
2 2
3 " 1% 7 " 2%
35. !$ ' 36. !$ '
8 # 4& 12 # 3 &
2 3
8 " 3% 5 " 1%
37. !$ ' 38. !$ '
15 # 5 & 6 # 2&
" 1 2% " 1 1% " 1 3% " 1 5%
39. $ ! ' • $ ! ' 40. $ ! ' • $ ! '
# 4 3& # 2 5 & # 8 4& # 3 6&
" 1 3% " 1 7 % " 1 9 % "5 7 %
41. $ ! ' • $ ! ' 42. $ ! ' • $ ! '
# 12 8 & # 6 10 & # 15 10 & # 8 12 &
2 2
5 " 1 1% 2 "4 7%
43. !$ ! ' 44. !$ ! '
12 # 8 2 & 3 # 5 10 &
2 2
5 " 1 2% 3 "1 5 %
45. !$ ! ' 46. !$ ! '
16 # 2 3 & 8 # 3 12 &

218
Compute the following expressions. Answer using mixed numbers.

1 1 1 1 1 1
47. 1 ! 2 • 3 48. 3 ! 4 • 3
4 3 2 3 2 4
" 1 1% 1 " 1 1% 1
49. $ 1 ! 2 ' • 3 50. $ 3 ! 4 ' • 3
# 4 3& 2 # 3 2& 4
1 1 1 1 1 3
51. 5 + 2 • 3 52. 4 + 1 • 2
4 3 5 5 2 4
! 1 1$ 1 ! 1 1 $ 3
53. # 5 + 2 & • 3 54. # 4 + 1 & • 2
" 4 3% 5 " 5 2% 4
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
55. 6 • 1 ! 1 • 2 56. 4 • 2 ! 2 • 3
2 4 3 2 5 4 4 3
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3
57. 3 • 2 ! 5 • 3 58. 2 • 2 ! 4 • 5
2 4 3 3 3 4 2 4
" 1 3 % " 1 1% " 1 1 % " 1 3%
59. $ 3 ! 1 ' • $ 4 ! 2 ' 60. $ 2 ! 3 ' • $ 3 ! 5 '
# 2 4& # 3 2& # 3 2& # 2 4&
" 1 5% " 1 5% " 1 3% " 1 3%
61. $ 2 ! 5 ' • $ 1 ! 4 ' 62. $ 2 ! 4 ' • $ 1 ! 2 '
# 4 8& # 3 6& # 3 4& # 5 10 &
2 2 2 2
! 1$ ! 1$ ! 3$ ! 1$
63. # 3 & ' # 2 & 64. # 2 & ' # 1 &
" 4% " 2% " 4 % " 3%
2 2 2 2
! 1$ ! 1$ ! 1$ ! 1$
65. # 2 & ' # 5 & 66. # 3 & ' # 5 &
" 3% " 2 % " 4% " 2%

219
Simplify the following complex fractions.

3 5
67. 4 68. 8
5 5
6 12
15 16
69. 16 70. 21
5 4
6 7
1 1
3+ 4+
71. 4 72. 2
2 3
3 5
3 3
5! 4!
73. 4 74. 5
5 7
6 10
2 3 5 2
+ +
75. 3 4 76. 6 3
1 1
4! 3!
3 2
3 1 2 1
! +
77. 4 3 78. 3 6
5 1 3 5
+ !
6 2 4 8
1 2 1 1
1 !2 1 !4
79. 2 3 80. 3 2
1 1 1 1
3 +1 2 +3
4 6 4 8
1 2 1 2
2 +4 1 +2
81. 6 3 82. 2 3
1 3 1 2
2 !5 1 !2
3 4 2 3

220
Find the average of the following sets of numbers.

1 3 1 1 1 1
83. 1 , 2 , 5 84. 3 , 4 , 5
2 4 4 3 2 6
3 1 3 3 7 5
85. 6 , 3 , 5 86. 5 , 4 , 9
10 2 5 4 8 6
2 1 1 3 1 1
87. !2 ,1 , !3 88. !6 , !2 , 4
3 4 2 5 4 2
2 1 1 1 5 3 1 1
89. !4 , !3 , 2 , 6 90. !4 , !2 , 3 , !5
3 4 2 6 6 4 3 2
91. 5.46, 3.85, 2.7, 8.5 92. 4.9, 8.69, 5.04, 12.9
93. –4.5, 1.08, –5.59, 3.2 94. –6.8, 2.59, 1.8, –13.5

Compute the following expressions.

95. 14.96 ! (3.1)(2.8) 96. 18 ! (3.5)(2.7)

97. 6 ! (4.6)(2.9) 98. 4.62 ! (5.7)(3.5)
99. (6.7)(4.5) ! (2.1)(3.9) 100. (5.9)(4.2) ! (3.2)(3.6)
101. 5.05 ! (1.8)2 102. 12 ! (2.6)2
103. 4.16 ! (5.2)2 104. 8.83 ! (4.9)2
105. (3.1 ! 1.9)2 106. (2.4 ! 4.1)2
107. (2.6 ! 8)(5 ! 3.7) 108. (3.1 ! 7.5)(6 ! 9.4)
109. (4.6 ! 8)(5.2 ! 10) 110. (3.7 ! 8.3)(4.5 ! 6.2)
111. (5.2)(!4) ! (3 ! 6.1)2 112. (3.5)(!6) ! (4.2 ! 7)2
113. (3.1 ! 6.3)2 ! (5 ! 7.3)2 114. (6 ! 10.2)2 ! (8.5 ! 4.9)2

221