Final answer:
To convert whole numbers to radicals on a calculator, use the root functions or raise the number to a fractional power. Use the exponent button for non-integer powers, and for scientific notation, move the decimal point according to the exponent's sign.
Step-by-step explanation:
Converting whole numbers to radicals on a calculator typically involves finding a certain root of the number. For example, to convert 8 into a radical, you might want to express it as the square root of 64 or √64 (since 64 is 8²). However, it seems there might be a misunderstanding in the question since whole numbers are not normally converted to radicals unless they are perfect powers. To perform operations involving radicals on most calculators, you'd use the root functions such as √ or ∛ or raise the number to a fractional power.
To perform an operation with exponents on a calculator, such as calculating 3 raised to the power of 1.7 (3¹.⁷), you'd simply key in the value '3', then use the exponent button (often labeled as ^, y¹, or similar), and then key in '1.7'. Calculators are designed to compute such non-integer powers without issue.
For example, in temperature-related problems where you need to take the fourth root (T⁴), you would use the 'y*' button (or equivalent) and raise the value to the 0.25 power. You could also take the square root of the number twice to achieve the fourth root.
When dealing with exponents and scientific notation, moving the decimal point to the right for positive exponents and to the left for negative exponents is common practice. For instance, a number like 2.4 x 10^-2 can be manually converted to 0.024 by moving the decimal point two places to the left.