Exponent Properties

1. Zero Exponent:
Any number raised to the zero power is equal to 1, except for zero which is not defined.

0 0
a = 1 ; a =/ 0 where as 0 is not defined

0 0
Example: 4 = 1 and 2500 = 1

2. Negative Exponent:
Negative exponents indicate reciprocation, with the exponent of the reciprocal becoming positive.
1 1
a = __n or __
-n n
-n
= a ; a =/ 0
a a

1 1 1
Example: 3 = __2 or __ __
-2 3
-3
=4 or -1
=n
3 4 n

3. Product of like bases:

To multiply powers with the same base, add the exponents and keep the common base.

m n m+n
a a =a ; a =/ 0

3 2 5
Example: 2 2 = 2 = 32

4. Quotient of like bases:

To divide powers with the same base, subtract the exponents and keep the common base.
m
a
__ m-n
n
=a ; a =/ 0
a
5
3
__ 5-3 2
Example: 3
= 3 = 3
3

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 Exponent Properties

5. Power to a power:
To raise a power to a power, keep the base and multiply the exponents.
n
m mn
(a ) = a
3
2 2x3 6
Example: (2 ) = 2 = 2

6. Product to a power:
To raise a product to a power, raise each factor to the power.

m m m
(ab) = a b ; a =/ 0 and b =/ 0

2 2 2
Example: (2x3) = 2 x 3

7. Quotient to a power:
To raise a quotient to a power, raise the numerator and the denominator to the power.
n
a
n a
( )
_
b
= __
n
; a =/ 0 and b =/ 0
b
2
2
2 2
Example: ( ) _
3
= __
2
3

8. Rational Exponent:
The denominator of the rational exponent becomes the index of the radical,
and the numerator becomes the exponent of the radicand.
x
_
( a) y
=
y
a
x
; a =/ 0

2
_
Example: ( 2) 3
=
3
2
2

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