MATHEMATICS

LAWS OF EXPONENTS

xm  xn  xmn When multiplying powers with the

Multiplying Powers
same base, add the exponents.
x3  x  x31  x4
xm
n
 x mn
Dividing Powers
x When dividing powers with the same
base, subtract the exponents.
x4
3
 x 4 3  x
x

Power of a Power Law

xy   x y
2 4 4 4 2
 x 4 y8
When raising a power to a power,
simply multiply the exponents.

2 When raising a quotient/fraction to a

 x5  x 52 x10
Power of a Quotient Law  4   42  8 power, raise both the numerator and
denominator to the power by
y  y y multiplying the exponents.

x0  1
Any base with an exponent of 0 is
Zero Exponent
equal to 1.

1 If a numerator has a negative

x 1  exponent, move it to the
x denominator. If a denominator has a
Negative Exponent
xy3 x negative exponent, move it to the
 3 numerator. In other words, find the
z y z reciprocal of the negative exponent.

Alendajao,K. Go,G. Go,Y. Pancho,V. Villacastin,R.

Disclaimer: The Authors will not be held responsible for inaccurate information and anomalies related to
these notes.
 TRANSFORMING RADICALS INTO EXPRESSIONS WITH RATIONAL EXPONENTS AND VICE VERSA

1
x 4
 4
x
When transforming an expression from a rational exponent to a radical, the denominator of the rational exponent becomes the
index, while the numerator becomes the exponent of the radicand. When transforming radicals to rational exponents, the
exponent of the radicand becomes the numerator of the rational exponent, while the index becomes the denominator of the
rational exponent.

RADICALS

* KEEP IN MIND THAT ALL THESE CASES MAY HAPPEN IN ONE EQUATION, so always double check if your answer is simplified.
Check if any of the cases can still be applied. Always remember to put the correct index!

THE FOUR CASES

4
- Only if the exponent of the radical is divisible by the
CASE ONE:
x x x
4 2 2 index
Extracting the
- Simply divide the exponent of the radicand by the
Roots 22
25  5  5 2
5 index and simplify if needed

- Only if the exponent of the radicand is NOT divisible

105 by the index.
CASE TWO:
5
x  x  x x
11 5 10 5
x  x2 5 x - Factor out the radicand - separate the factor that
Factorization can be simplified further.
50  25  2  52  2  5 2 - Take note of the number in the index: how many
times does it appear in the exponent of the radicand?

CASE THREE: 3 3 3 - Only if the denominator of the expression is a radical

xy a xy a xy a
Rationalizing
the
   2 - Find a number that will make the denominator a
whole number, and multiply it to the whole
Denominator a3 a a 4 a expression

- Only if the exponent of the radicand and the index

 
CASE FOUR: 2 1 have a common factor
1
Reducing the
Index
4
x2  x 2 4
x x  x
4 2 - Change the radical into a rational exponent and
simplify the rational exponent, then change it back
into a radical

Alendajao,K. Go,G. Go,Y. Pancho,V. Villacastin,R.

Disclaimer: The Authors will not be held responsible for inaccurate information and anomalies related to
these notes.
 OPERATIONS ON RADICALS

* Always simplify if you can!

- Apply rules of adding integers: if the

two terms do not have the same
x  2 x  1 2 x  3 x radicand/index, do not add the terms. If
ADDITION OF RADICALS the terms have different variables, do

x y x y
not add them.

- Simply add the coefficients and copy

the bases

- Apply rules of subtracting integers: if

the two terms have different

2 x  x  2 1 x  x
SUBTRACTION OF radicand/index/variables, do not
RADICALS subtract.

- Simply subtract the coefficients and

copy the bases

MULTIPLICATION OF
2x  4x  2  4  x  x - If the radicals being multiplied have the
same index, simply multiply the
RADICALS
 8x 2
radicands.

A. Rationalizing the Denominator

13 5 13 5 13 5
A:    - Simply multiply the radical in the
5 5 25 5 denominator with another radical which
would turn it into a whole number.

1 2 5 2 5
 
B:
2 5 2 5  2 5 2 5  B. Rationalizing the Denominator Using
Conjugates
DIVISION OF RADICALS
2 5 - Especially useful when dealing with
Use _ DOTS  
 2   5
denominators that are binomials that
2 2 HAVE RADICALS in them. Rationalize the
denominator using the rules of
difference of two squares. If the
2 5 2 5 2 5
  or 
binomial in the denominator is using
addition, multiply it with the same
2  25  23 23 binomial but instead of addition, it uses
subtraction [(a+b)(a-b)].

Alendajao,K. Go,G. Go,Y. Pancho,V. Villacastin,R.

Disclaimer: The Authors will not be held responsible for inaccurate information and anomalies related to
these notes.