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I'm in a intermediate algebra class and am confused about how to get the simplified form of $\sqrt[3]{x^{10}}$

I tend to want to write it as $x^{10/3}$ creating a mixed fraction then simplifying that to get $x^{3}\sqrt[3]{x}$

However, when asking a friend they explained that if we look at it by going $\sqrt[3]{x^{8}}\sqrt[3]{x^{2}}$ then would get $x^2\sqrt[3]{x^{2}}$

Could someone please help with which one is correct and if the top one is correct explain why.

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    "Simplify" is a term that cannot be defined precisely. A "simplification" that is best for one purpose is not necessarily best for another. I think that $x^{10/3}$ is a good general purpose simplification. But in a class, what is best is effectively what teacher thinks best.2012-05-24

3 Answers 3

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$x^2\sqrt[3]{x^2}=x^2\cdot x^{2/3}=x^{8/3}\neq x^{10/3}$ ...

The mistake is at $\,\,\sqrt[3]{x^8}\sqrt[3]{x^2}\neq x^2\sqrt[3]{x^2}\,\,$ since $\,\,\sqrt[3]{x^8}\neq x^2\,\,$ but $\,x^{8/3}$

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    Yes it is! $ \,\,\,\, $2012-05-24
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We have $x^{10/3}=x^{(9 + 1)/3}=x^{9/3 + 1/3}=x^{3 + 1/3}=x^3x^{1/3}$

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you can try $x^6*x^4$,we in your case it would be $x^2*x^{4/3}$,there are many forms,for example as @AD. indicated