Exponents

exponent

Power 5 3

base

Example: 125  53 means that 53 is the exponential

form of the number 125.

53 means 3 factors of 5 or 5 x 5 x 5
The Laws of Exponents:
#1: Exponential form: The exponent of a power indicates
how many times the base multiplies itself.

x 1
x  4x  44
n
x 
2 x4 x4 x43 x
n times

n factors of x

Example: 5  5  5  5
3
#2: Multiplying Powers: If you are multiplying Powers
with the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!

m n
x x  x
m n

So, I get it!

When you
multiply
Powers, you 2 6  23  263  29
add the  512
exponents!
#3: Dividing Powers: When dividing Powers with the
same base, KEEP the BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!
m
x mn
n
 x m
 x n
 x
x
So, I get it!
When you 26
6 2
divide 2
 2  2 4

2
Powers, you
subtract the  16
exponents!
Try these:
12
s
1. 3  3 
2 2 7. 4

s
2. 5  5 
2 4
3 9
8. 
a a 
5 2 5
3. 3
12 8
4. 2s  4s 
2 7 s t
9. 4 4

st
5. (3)  (3) 
2 3
5 8
36a b
10. 
s 2t 4  s 7 t 3 
4 5
6. 4a b
 SOLUTIONS
2 2
1. 3  3  3  3  81
2 2 4

2 4
2. 5  5  5
2 4
5 6
5 2
3. a a  a
5 2
a 7

2 7
4. 2s  4s  2  4  s
2 7
 8s 9

23
5. (3)  (3)  (3)
2 3
 (3)  243
5

6. s t s t 
2 4 7 3
s 2  7 4 3
t s t
9 7
 SOLUTIONS
12
s 12 4


8
7. 4
s s
s
9
3 95
 

4
8. 5
3 3 81
3
12 8
s t 124 84


8 4
9. 4 4
s t s t
st
5 8
36a b   54 85


3
10. 4 5
36 4 a b 9ab
4a b
#4: Power of a Power: If you are raising a Power to an
exponent, you multiply the exponents!

x 
n
m
x mn

So, when I
take a Power
to a power, I
multiply the (5 )  5
3 2 32
5
5
exponents
#5: Product Law of Exponents: If the product of the
bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is a
multiplication of individual factors of the product, each powered
by the given exponent.

 xy  x y
n n n

So, when I take

a Power of a
Product, I apply
the exponent to (ab)  a b2 2 2

all factors of
the product.
#6: Quotient Law of Exponents: If the quotient of the
bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is both
numerator and denominator , each powered by the given exponent.
n
 x x n

   n
 y y
So, when I take a
Power of a
Quotient, I apply 4
 2  2 16
4
the exponent to
all parts of the    4 
quotient. 3 3 81
Try these: 5
s
1. 3  
2 5
 7.   
t2
 
2. a 3 4
 39 
8.  5  
3. 2a   2 3
3 
2

4. 2 a b  5 3 2  st 
8
9.  4  
2

 rt 
5. (3a )  2 2
5 8 2
 36a b 
10.  4 5  
 
6. s t 2 4 3
  4a b 
 SOLUTIONS

 
1. 3 2 5
 310

 
2. a 3 4
 a12

 
3. 2a 2 3
 2a
3 23
 8a 6

4. 2 a b 
2 5 3 2
 2 22 52 32
a b  2 4 10 6
a b  16a10 6
b

5. (3a )   3  a 22
 9a
2 2 2 4

 
6. s t 2 4 3
s t
23 43
s t
6 12
 SOLUTIONS
5
s
5
s
7.   
t
5
t
2
3 9
8.  5   34
3 
  2
3 8

2
 st  8
 st 4 2
 s 2 8
t
9.  4      2
 rt  
 r  r
2
 36a b
5 8

10  4 5
 4a b
 

9ab  3 2
9 a b
2 2 32
 81a b
2 6
#7: Negative Law of Exponents: If the base is powered
by the negative exponent, then the base becomes reciprocal with the
positive exponent.
m 1
So, when I have a
x  m
Negative Exponent, I x
switch the base to its
reciprocal with a
Positive Exponent.
Ha Ha! 3 1 1
5  3 
If the base with the 5 125
negative exponent is in and
the denominator, it
moves to the 1
numerator to lose its 2
 3 2
9
3
negative sign!
#8: Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by zero
exponent equals one.

x 1
0

So zero 50  1
factors of a
and
base equals 1.
That makes a0  1
sense! Every and
power has a (5a ) 0  1
coefficient
of 1.
Try these: 1
2 
2

1. 2a b 2 0
 7.   
 x 2
4
2. y y 2
  39 
8.  5  
3. a  5 1
 3 
2
4. s  4s 2 7 s t 
2 2
9.  4 4  
s t 

5. 3x y  
2 3 4
 36a 5 2

10.  4 5  
6. s t   2 4 0
 4a b 
 SOLUTIONS


1. 2a b  1 2

0

  5 1
1
3. a  5
a
2
4. s  4s  4s 7 5


5. 3x y 2 3 4
  3 x y
4 8 12
 
x8
81y 12

 
6. s t 2 4 0
 1
 SOLUTIONS
1 1
2  2 4 x
7.     
 x   x 4
9 2
3 
 3 
4 2 1
8
8.  5  3  8
3  3
2
s t 
 
2 2
2 2 2
9.  4 4   s t s t
4 4

s t 
2 10
 36a 5   b

10.  4 5    9 2
a 2
b10
 2
81a
 4 a b 