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Exponents give us many shortcuts for

multiplying and dividing quickly.
Each of the key rules for exponents has an
importance in algebra.

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25 = 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 = ?
We know 2•2=4
4•2=8
8 • 2 = 16
16 • 2 = 32
So 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 • 2 = 32
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An exponent tells how many

times a number is multiplied by
itself.
3 Exponent
Base 4
4•4•4 = 64
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How do we write in exponential form?
3•3•3• 4 • 4 • 4 • 4

Answer: 33 • 4 4

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How do we write in exponential form?

2 • 2 • 2 •3•3• 4
Answer: 23 • 32 • 41

Notice: 41 = 4

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Write each in Exponential Form.
xi xi xi xi y i y = x y
4 2

4
2 2 2 2 2
• • • =  
3 3 3 3 3

3i xi3i xi xi y = 32 x 3 y
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Write each in Factored Form.

8a 3b 2 = 8ia iaia ibib

( xy )
4
= xy i xy i xy i xy

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 If x3 means x • x • x
and x4 means x • x • x • x
3 4
then what is x • x ?
x•x•x•x•x•x•x
7
=x
Can you think of a quick way to come
up with the solution?
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Just Add the Exponents!

3+ 4
3
x ix 4
=x =x 7

Your shortcut is called the

Product of Powers Property.
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When multiplying powers with the
same base, just ADD the exponents.
For all positive integers m and n:
a m • a n = a m+n
Ex: 4
3
4 =4
2 3+2
= 4
5

5
4 4 4 4 4=4

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Try This One!

What is 31 • 34 • 35?
Since we are multiplying like bases
just add the exponents.

Answer: 3(1 + 4 + 5) = 310

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 Simplify.
1) 22 • 23 = 22+3 2) d 7 • d 4 = d 7+ 4
= 25 = d11
= 32

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Simplify.
() () ()
2 3 5
3) 32 • 3 = 3 2+1
4) 1 • 1 = 1
1

2 2 2
= 33
= 27
( )( )
= 1•1 • 1•1•1
2 2 2 2 2
= 1
32

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 Simplify.
5) ( −2) • ( −2) = ( −2)
3 3 3+3
6) a 5 • b 2 • a 7
= ( −2) = a 5+ 7 • b 2
6

= 64 = a12 b 2

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5 2 2 5 2
(7b ) = 7 (b )
5 5 10
(7b )(7b ) = 49b
3 2 2 3 2
(5x ) = 5 (x )
3 3 6
(5x )(5x ) = 25x

Can you think of a quick way to

come up with the solution?
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 Just Multiply the Exponents!
(x ) = x
3 4 3• 4 12
=x
Your short cut is called the
Power of a Power Property.
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Just Multiply the Exponents!

(a2)3 = a2 • a2 • a2 = a2+2+2 = a6

Your short cut is called the

Power of Power Property.
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To find the power of a power, you MULTIPLY the
exponents. This is used when an exponent
is on the outside of parenthesis.
1 2 3
(5 a b)
3 2•3 3
5 a b
6 3
125a b
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To find the power of a power, you MULTIPLY the

exponents. This is used when an exponent
is on the outside of parenthesis.
1 3 5
(2 x )
5 3•5
2 x
15
32x
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 1 5 2
6(3 y z)
2 5•2 2
6(3 y z )
5•2 2
6(9y z )
10 2
54y z

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Simplify Using What You Just Learned

4 5
1) (y ) 2) 3m 2 • 1m 5

y 20 3 m7

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Simplify Using What You Just Learned
3) a 4 • a3 4) (−4x 2 y) 2
a7 16 x 4 y 2

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Simplify Using What You Just Learned

5) m •m
5 6 6)
(x −4
y )
−2 5

m11 x −20 y −10

1
1
x 20 y10

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Simplify Using What You Just Learned
7) (2a 2 b 4 )3 8) 2x 3 • 4x 5

8 a 6 b12 8x 8

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Take Out Your Study Guide!!!

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#10
Just flip the fraction over to make the
exponent positive!
−2
1
2 2
8 = 8
  =  = 64
8 1 12
−2
4
2 2
7 = 7 49
  =  =
7 4 42 16
−3
 −1 
3 3
 4 = 4 64
  =   (−1)3 = = −64
 4   −1  −1
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#11
When multiplying powers with the
same base, just ADD the exponents.
For all positive integers m and n:
m n m+n
a •a = a
Ex : 2 3
(3 )(3 ) = (3 • 3) • (3 • 3 •3)
2+3 5
=3 =3
5 4 5+4 9
(x )(x ) = x =x
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# 12
To find the power of a power, you MULTIPLY the
exponents . This is used when an exponent
is on the outside of parenthesis.
1 2 3 3 2•3 3 6 3
(5 a b) = 5 a b = 125a b
1 3 5 5 3•5 15
(2 x ) =2 x = 32x
1 8 2 2 8•2 2 =
8(3 y z) = 8 (3 y z )
16 2
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72y z

Extra slides

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15
#11
2x 3 • 5x 4
Simplify. 2 • 5 • x 3+ 4 = 10x 7
1
1) (8a 5 ) • (3a 7 ) 3) (9x 2 y3 )(-2xy5 )
24 a12 −18 x 3 y8

2) (-3a)1 • (4a 7 ) 1
4) (6a 2 bc3 )(5ab5 )
1

−12 a 8 30 a 3 b6 c3
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