Try to evaluate 16 3/2 without using a calculator. Enter your answer as an integer or reduced fraction (no
decimals
).
Enter DNE if the number is not real.
The value is 64



Answer :

Certainly! Let's break down the computation of [tex]\( 16^{\frac{3}{2}} \)[/tex] step by step:

1. Rewrite the exponent:
The expression [tex]\( 16^{\frac{3}{2}} \)[/tex] can be rewritten using properties of exponents. Specifically, we can write it as [tex]\( (16^{\frac{1}{2}})^3 \)[/tex].

2. Calculate the square root of the base:
The term [tex]\( 16^{\frac{1}{2}} \)[/tex] represents the square root of 16. The square root of 16 is 4, since [tex]\( 4 \times 4 = 16 \)[/tex].

3. Raise the result to the power of 3:
Now that we have evaluated the square root of 16 to be 4, we need to raise this result to the power of 3. This means we need to calculate [tex]\( 4^3 \)[/tex].

4. Perform the final exponentiation:
[tex]\( 4^3 \)[/tex] means [tex]\( 4 \times 4 \times 4 \)[/tex]. Calculating this, we get:
[tex]\[ 4 \times 4 = 16 \][/tex]
[tex]\[ 16 \times 4 = 64 \][/tex]

Therefore, the value of [tex]\( 16^{\frac{3}{2}} \)[/tex] is [tex]\( 64 \)[/tex].