The AMATYC Review

Spring 2006, Vol.27, No.2

Extending Rules for Exponents and Roots
Utilizing Mathematical Connections


Michael J. Bossé and Stephen Kcenich

Michael J. Boss´e is an associate professor of Mathematics Education at East Carolina University. He received his PhD from the University of Connecticut. His professional interests within the field of mathematics education include elementary and secondary mathematics education, pedagogy, epistemology, learning styles, and the use of technology in the classroom. E-mail: bossem@ecu.edu
Stephen Kcenich is currently a lecturer at the University of Maryland in College Park. His main interest is actuarial mathematics and its application to undergraduate curriculum. E-mail: stephenkcenich@yahoo.com
This paper considers rules for multiplying exponential and radical expressions of different bases and exponents and/or roots. This paper demonstrates the development of mathematical concepts through the application of connections to other
mathematical ideas. The developed rules and most of the employed connections are within the realm of secondary and elementary college mathematics.