if x^2=y^3, for what value of z does x^{3z}= y^9 y^9 = y^3 * y^3, so if we square the right side, we must square the left side for equivalence: x^2 * x^2 = x^4 Therefore, x^4 = y^9 Going back to our problem, x^{3z}= y^9, so 3z = 4 Divide each side by 3 to isolate z, and we have: 3z/3 = 4/3 z = 4/3