Final answer:
To express 5 √ 4 using rational exponents, you write it as 5¹ × 4¹⁄₂, as the square root of a number is that number raised to the power of ½.
Step-by-step explanation:
To write 5 √ 4 using rational exponents, we must express the square root of 4 as a power. From our mathematical rules, we know that a square root can be written as an exponent of ½. Therefore, √4 is equivalent to 4 to the ½ power (4¹⁄₂).
Considering the expression 5 √ 4, we apply the same concept. The 5 is actually 5 to the power of 1 (5¹), and the square root of 4 is 4 to the ½ power. When these are multiplied together, we combine the base of 5 with the exponent expressions, remembering that the 4¹⁄₂ needs to be multiplied by 5¹. Consequently, 5 √ 4 becomes 5¹ × 4¹⁄₂.