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7-2 Study Guide and Intervention

Division Properties of Exponents
Divide Monomials To divide two powers with the same base, subtract the exponents.
am
= am n .
an

Quotient of Powers

For all integers m and n and any nonzero number a,

Power of a Quotient

For any integer m and any real numbers a and b, b 0,

Example1: Simplify

3
a

5
b

=
2

23

a4 b7
. Assume that no
a b2

denominator equals zero.

a4 b7
2
ab

a4
a

b7
b2

( )( )

Group powers with the

same base.

= ( a 41 )( b72 )
= a3b5

Quotient of Powers

Simplify.

The quotient is

a3 b5

Example 2: Simplify

2a b
3 b2

5 3

. Assume that no
=

denominator equals zero.

2a b
3 b2

5 3

( 2a 3 b 5 )
3
( 3 b2 )

a
b

()

am
.
m
a

Power of a Product

8 a9 b15
27 b 6
8 a9 b9
27

Power of a Power

Quotient of

Powers
Power of a

The quotient is

Quotient

8 a9 b9
.
27

Exercises
Simplify each expression. Assume that no denominator equals zero.
5

5
2
5
p5 n 4
p2 n

1.

Chapter 7

2.

11

m
4
m

3.

Glencoe Algebra 1

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5

a
a
2 y 7
6.
14 y 5
4.

x y6
7.
y4x
4 4
4p r
2 2
3p r

10.

2 a2 b
a

( )

8.

9.

2r 5 w 3
r 4 w3

Chapter 7

x y
x5 y2

5.

11.

3 r6 n3
2 r5 n

12

12.

r7 n7 t 2
3 3 2
nr t

Glencoe Algebra 1

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7-2 Study Guide and Intervention (continued)

Division Properties of Exponents
Negative Exponents Any nonzero number raised to the zero power is 1; for example, (0.5)0 = 1. Any
nonzero number raised to a negative power is equal to the reciprocal of the number raised to the opposite power;
for example,

63 =

1
3
6

. These definitions can be used to simplify expressions that have negative exponents..

a0

Zero Exponent

For any nonzero number a,

= 1.

Negative Exponent Property

For any nonzero number a and any integer n,

an

1
an

n and

1
an

an

The simplified form of an expression containing negative exponents must contain only positive exponents.

4 a3 b6
. Assume that no denominator equals zero.
16 a2 b 6 c5

Example: Simplify
4 a3 b6
=
16 a2 b 6 c5

a3
a2

1
4

1
4

a b c

1
4

( a1 )

c5
4 a5

The solution is

b6
b6

( )( )( )( c1 )
4
16

( a32 )( b66 )( c 5 )
5

Group powers with the same base.

Quotient of Powers and Negative Exponent Properties

Simplify.

(1) c 5

Negative Exponent and Zero Exponent Properties

Simplify.

c5
.
4 a5

Exercises
Simplify each expression. Assume that no denominator equals zero.

22
23

1.

2.

m
m4

3.

p
p3

Chapter 7

12

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4.

b4
b5

5.

x y
2
x
( 3 rt )2 u4
r1 t 2 u 7

7.

10.

8.

m3 t 3

( m2 t 3)

Chapter 7

11.

(x1 )

6.

4 w1 y 2

( 6 a1 b )
4
( b2 )

4 m2 n2
8 m1 l

12

( ab )2

9.

( a2 b3 )

12.

( 2 mn2 )

4 m 6 n4

Glencoe Algebra 1