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1. Exponents

The document provides a comprehensive overview of exponents and the laws governing them, including definitions, examples, and applications. It outlines how to express numbers in expanded form, the product, power, and quotient laws of exponents, and conditions for simplifying expressions. Additionally, it emphasizes the behavior of negative bases raised to even and odd powers.

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Arnel Ampiao
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3 views10 pages

1. Exponents

The document provides a comprehensive overview of exponents and the laws governing them, including definitions, examples, and applications. It outlines how to express numbers in expanded form, the product, power, and quotient laws of exponents, and conditions for simplifying expressions. Additionally, it emphasizes the behavior of negative bases raised to even and odd powers.

Uploaded by

Arnel Ampiao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EXPONENTS &

LAWS OF EXPONENTS
Definition:
If 𝑎 Є R and 𝑛 Є N, then base 𝑎 is raised to
𝑛=
a certain power
𝑎 𝑎 ∗ 𝑎 ∗ 𝑎 ∗ 𝑎…𝑎
𝑛 factors of 𝑎

where, 𝑎 is called the base


𝑛 is called the exponent (power)
𝑎 is called the 𝑛-th power of 𝑎
𝑛
EXAMPLES:

Express the following into its expanded form.

1. 34 = 3*3*3*3 = 81
2. (−2)5 = -2*-2*-2*-2*-2 = −(25 ) = -32 ; if 𝑛 is odd, (−𝑎)𝑛 = −(𝑎𝑛 )
3. (−4)4 = -4*-4*-4*-4 = 44 = 256 ; if 𝑛 is even, (−𝑎)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛
1 3 1 1 1 1
4. −( ) = −( ∗ ∗ ) = −
3 3 3 3 27
Note: A negative number raised to an even
power is positive, otherwise, it is negative.
Laws of Exponents
We use the laws of exponents for
convenience in simplifying algebraic
expressions, equations or inequalities by
eliminating zero and negative powers.
3𝑥 2 −2𝑥+1
Expression: , 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 4 , 2𝑦 + 5
𝑥−2

Equation: 3𝑥 + 5 = 𝑦 − 3 Inequality: the use of inequality symbols


<, >, ≤, ≥, ≠ instead of =.
1. The product of powers.
𝑛 𝑚 𝑛+𝑚
𝑥 𝑥 =𝑥
When multiplying exponential expressions of the
same base, copy the base and add the exponents.
Examples:
1. 𝑦 2 𝑦 4 = 𝑦 2+4 2. (53 )(52 ) = 53+2
= 𝑦6 = 55
= 3125
2. The power of a product.
𝑛 𝑛 𝑛
(𝑥𝑦) = 𝑥 𝑦
When a product is raised to a certain power,
just raise each factor with the same power.

Examples:
1. (𝑎𝑏𝑐) = 𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
3 3 3 3
2. (3𝑥𝑦)
4= 4
3 𝑥 𝑦4 4

= 81𝑥 4 𝑦 4
𝑥𝑛
3. The quotient of powers.
𝑥𝑚

When getting the quotient of exponential expressions in a


fraction with the same base both numerator and
denominator but of different exponents, just copy the
common base and subtract their exponents given by the
following conditions:
Condition 1: if n > m

𝑥𝑛 𝑛−𝑚
= 𝑥
𝑥𝑚

Examples: 𝑎10 10−6 45 5−2


1. 6 = 𝑎 2. 2 = 4
𝑎 4 4 3
=𝑎 =4
= 64
Condition 2: if m > n
𝑥𝑛 1
=
𝑥𝑚 𝑥 𝑚−𝑛

Examples: 42 1
2. =
4 7−2
𝑦4 1 47
1. =
𝑦 8−4 1
𝑦8 =
1 45
= 1
𝑦4
=
1024
Condition 3: if n = m

𝑥𝑛
= 1
𝑥𝑚

𝑧8
Examples: 1. =1
𝑧8
39
2. =1
39

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