Exponent Laws

By Langston Sholl
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #1

An integer with a negative exponent should

become a base being divided by 1 in order to
create a positive exponent.
x
N
x
Ex1:
1 ___
4
=
1
N
4
x
= Ex2: 6
x
=
1 __
x x Ex3: 12
x
=
1 __
6 12
x
-
-
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #2!

Anything to the power of 0 is equal to 1.

N
0
= 1
n=0
4
0
= 4 Ex1: Ex2: 34
0
=34 Ex3: 123515
0
=123515
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #3!

The multiplication of exponents is equal to addition.

For example, N to the power of 3 multiplied by N to
the power of 4 is equal to N to the power of 7
because the exponents 3 & 4 are added.
N
3
N
4
=N
3 4 +
= N
7
Ex1: 5 4
4 7
=20
11
Ex2: 6 4
0 0
Ex3: =24 205
20 17
=100
37
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #4!

If an integer with an exponent is within

parentheses and there is an exponent outside of
the parentheses you must multiply the two
exponents. For example, N to the 3rd power
within parentheses multiplied by the 4th power is
equal to the N to the 12th power.
N (
3
)
4
= N
3 4
= N
12
Ex1: 4 ( ( ) )
5
4
= 4
20
Ex2: 17
12
12
=17
144
Ex3: 1 ( )
2
4
= 1
8
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #5!

The division of exponents is equal to subtractions,

so subtract the exponents!For example, N to the
8th power divided by N to the 5th power is equal
to N to the 8th power minus N to the 5th power.
N
N
8
5
= N
8 5
= N
3
Ex1:
12
4
7
6
= 3
1
Ex2:
3
3
1
1
=1 Ex3:
100
25
7
11
= 4
3
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f
Exponent Rule #6

When you have a fraction with the exponent

outside of the parentheses, it is distributed to each
integer within the parentheses.
xy
z
4
=
y x
4 4
z
4
( )
35
Ex1:( )
3
2
=
( )
3
2
5
2
3
2 Ex2:
15
5
( )
3
=
(
1 5
3 3
5
3
)Ex3:
12
( )
4
5
=
( )
1
5
2
5
4
5
Sholl, Langston Monday, December 16, 2013 10:25:12 AM Pacic Standard Time 70:56:81:a9:7c:7f