EXPONENTS ARE NOT ON THE LEVEL

A negative in the exponent says "flip the fraction"
	  (2)^(-1) is 
	(2/1)^(-1) is 
	  1/2


A fraction in the exponent says two things "(raise to this power)/(take this root)"
	Take the root first then raise to the power.
	16^(3/2) is
	(the square root of 16)^3 is
	4^3 is
	64

Taking all three at once: take the root, then raise to the power, then flip.
	16^(-3/2) is 
	4^(-3) is
	64^(-1) is
	1/64

base

coefficient

collect

combine

exponent

index

power

radical

radicand

root

term

© 2009, Agnes Azzolino www.mathnstuff.com/math/spoken/here/2class/210/c21pg00.htm