Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation &

Practice

Definitions: In this handout we deal only with expressions that have integers (positive or
negative, and zero) as exponents.

Example: We study such expressions as

x3 a −2 y0 x 2 y 3 w−1 ( m + n)5

A positive exponent shows how many times the base is to be multiplied by itself.

Example: In the expression 34, 3 is the base and 4 is the exponent.

base 34 exponent

Its meaning is: 34 = 3(3)(3)(3) the value of which is 81.

In general, Positive Integral Exponent an means a ∙ a ∙ a ∙ a ∙ …. ∙ a

n factors

An exponent applies only to the symbol directly

Common before it. Thus 2x 2 ≠ 22 x 2
Error but (2x)2 = 22 x 2 = 4x 2

Multiplying Powers: Let us multiply the quantity x2 by x3. From the explanation above, we
know that x2 = x ∙ x
and that x3 = x ∙ x ∙ x
Multiplying, we obtain x2 ∙ x3 = (x ∙ x)( x ∙ x ∙ x)
= x∙x∙x∙x∙x
= x5
Notice that the exponent in the result is the sum of the two original exponents.
x2 ∙ x3 = x2 + 3 = x5
This will always be so if the bases are the same. We summarize this rule as our first law of
exponents.

Multiplication Law #1
of Like Bases xa ∙ xb = xa + b

4+3
Example: x 4 (=
x3 ) x= x7

Every quantity having no exponent is understood to have an exponent of 1, even though it is

not usually written.
-1- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice
2/10/14—mm-fd

461
 The “invisible1” appears
again. We saw it before as
the unwritten coefficient of Examples:
every term, and now as the 1+ 3
unwritten exponent. It is (a) x( x= 3
) x= x4
also in the denominator. 2 + 4 +1
1
(b) a 2 (a 4=)(a ) a= a7
1x
x= (c) x a ( x)( x b ) = x a +1+b
1
Do not forget about those
“invisible 1’s”. We use
them all the time.

Dividing Powers: Let us divide x5 by x3.

x5 x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x x ⋅ x ⋅ x
= = ⋅x⋅x
x3 x⋅x⋅x x⋅x⋅x
= x ⋅ x = x2

The same result could have been obtained by subtracting exponents.

x5 5−3
= 3
x= x2
x
This always works if the bases are the same, and we state it as another law of
exponents:
xa
Dividing = b
x a −b ( x ≠ 0). Law #2
x
Like Bases

Example: Divide a4b3 by ab2 .

a 4b3 4 −1 3− 2
Solution: By Law #2, = a= b a 3b
ab 2
Raising a Power to a Power: Let us take a quantity raised to a power, say, x2, and raise
the entire expression to another power, say 3.
( x 2 )3
By the definition of exponents, ( x 2 )3 = ( x 2 )( x 2 )( x 2 )
=( x ⋅ x)( x ⋅ x)( x ⋅ x)
= x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x = x6
a result that could have been obtained by multiplying the exponents.
( x=) x=
2 3 2(3)
x6

A Power ( x a )b = x ab Law #3
In general,
Of a Power

-2- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice

2/10/14—mm-fd

461
 Examples:
(a) ( w= ) w=
5 2 5(2)
w10
(b) (=a −3 ) 2 a=
( −3)(2)
a −6
(c) (10= 4 3
) 10 = 4(3)
1012

Raising a Product to a Power: We now raise a product, such as xy, to some power, say 3.
(xy)3
By the definition of exponents, ( xy )3 = ( xy )( xy )( xy )
= x⋅ y⋅x⋅ y⋅x⋅ y
= x⋅x⋅x⋅ y⋅ y⋅ y
= x3 y 3
In general,
The Power of a ( xy ) n = x n y n Law #4
Product

Examples:
(a) ( xyz )5 = x5 y 5 z 5
(b) (2=x)3 2= 3 3
x 8 x3
(c) (3.5 × 10 3 ) 2 = (3.5) 2 × (10 3 ) 2 = 12.25 × 10 6
(d) =
(3 x 2 y n )3 3=3
( x 2 )3 ( y n )3 27 x 6 y 3n
A good way to test a “rule” that
you are not sure of is to try it
with numbers. In this case, does
(2+3)2 equal 22+32 ? Common There is no similar rule for the sum of two
Evaluating each expression, we Error quantities raised to a power.
obtain
? ( x + y)n ≠ x n + y n
2
(5) = 4 + 9

25 ≠ 13

Raising a Quotient to a Power: Using the same steps as in the preceding section, see if
you can show that
3
x x3
  =
 y y3
In general, n
x xn
The Power of a =
  ( y ≠ 0) Law #5
 y yn
Quotient

Examples:
2
x x2 x2
(a)  = =
5 52 25

-3- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice

2/10/14—mm-fd

461
 3
 3a  3 a
3 3
27 a 3
(b)  = =
 2b  2 b
3 3
8b3
3
 2 x 2  23 ( x 2 ) 3 8x6
(c) =
 3 =3 3 3 9
 5 y  5 ( y ) 125 y

Zero as an Exponent: If we divide xn by itself, we get, by Law #2,

xn n−n
= n
x= x0
x
But any expression divided by itself equals 1, so
Any quantity
(except 0) raised
to the zero power Zero Exponent x0 = 1 (x ≠ 0) Law #6
equals 1.

Examples:
(a) ( xyz )0 = 1
(b) 38620 = 1
(c) ( x 2 − 2 x + 3)0 =
1
(d) 5=x 0 5(1)= 5

Negative Exponents: We now divide x0 by xa. By Law #2,

x0 0− a
= a
x= x−a
x
Since x0 = 1, we get

1
Negative Exponents x−a = (x ≠ 0) Law #7
xa

Examples:
1 1
(a) 5−1 = (b) x −4 =
5 x4

1 1 y2
(c) = xa (d) =
x−a xy −2 x

w−3 z 2
(e) =
z −2 w3

-4- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice

2/10/14—mm-fd

461
Practice
Evaluate each expression.

1. 53 = 2. (−2) 2 = 3. (−6) 3 =
2
 2
4. (+9) 2
= 5. (−5) 4
= 6. +  =
 3

7. (−10) 3 = 8. (−3) 3 = 9. 54 =
3
 4
10. -  = 11. (+5) 2 = 12. (−2) 3 =
 5

13. 82 − 32 = 14. 9 1 − (3) 2 + (4) 4 = 15. 7 2 + 33 − 41 =

2 3
 1  1
16. 5 0 + (−3) 2 + 4 1 = 17. 4 3 − (3) 2 + (5) 0 = 18.   +   =
2 2

2 2 1
 3   1  1
19. (−4) − (−3) + 2
3 3 4
= 20. +  - -  + +  = 21. 52 · (-2)2 ÷ 22 =
 4  2  2

(-3)4 - 25 3
22. (-3)3 ÷ 3 · 24 = 23. (-7)0 ÷ 8 · (-2)3 = 24. ⋅2
72

25. 24 26. (–3)2 27. (–6)3

28. (|–3|)3 29. (0.1)4 30. (–2)5

Multiply.

31. a3 ∙ a5 32. xa ∙ x2 ∙ x4 33. y a+1 ⋅ y a-3

34. 104 ∙ 103 35. 10a ∙ 10b 36. 10n+2 ∙ 102n-1

Divide. Write your answers without negative exponents.

y5 55 x n+2
37. 38. 39.
y2 53 x n+1

105 10 x+5 102

40. 41. 42.
10 10 x+3 10-3

-5- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice

2/10/14—mm-fd

461
 x -2 a-5
43. 44.
x -3 a

Simplify.

45. (x 3 )4 46. (92 )3 47. (a x )y

48. (x -2 )-2 49. (x a+1)2

Raise to the power indicated.

50. (xy)2 51. (2x)3 52. (3x 2 y3 )2

2 3
2 3 2 3  1
53. (3x y ) 54.   55. - 
5  3
5 2
x  3x 2 y 
3
 2a 
56. y 57.  2 58.  3 
   3b   4wz 

Write each expression with positive exponents only.

-3
-2 -3 3
59. a 60. (-x) 61. y
 
-2
-2 -3  2a 
62. a bc 63.  3 64. xy -4
 3b 
-1
-4 x
65. xy 66. y
 

Express without fractions, using negative exponents where needed.

1 3 x2
67. 68. 69.
x y2 y2
x 2 y -3 a-3 x -2 y -3
70. 71. 72.
z-2 b2 w -1z-4

Simplify.
a0
73. (a + b + c)0 74. 8x 0 y 2 75.
9
0
y x 2n × x 3 x
76. 77. 78. 5 
x0 x 3+2n y

-6- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice

2/10/14—mm-fd

461
 Answer Key
Exponent Laws: with Integer Exponents – Explanation & Practice
1. +125 22. −144 45. x12 b
62. 2 3
ac
2. +4 23. −1 46. 96
9b6
3. −216 24. 8 47. axy 63.
4a2
4. +81 25. 16 48. x4
x
64.
5. +625 26. 9 49. x2a+2 y4

4 27. -216 50. x2 y2 2 3

6. + 65. +
9 x2 y3
28. (|-3|)3=(3)3 = 27 51. 8x3
7. −1,000 y
29. 0.0001 52. 9x4y6 66.
x
8. −27
30. -32 53. 27a3b3c3
67. x-1
9. 625
31. a8 9
54. 68. 3y-2
64 25
10. − 32. xa+6
125 69. x2y-2
1
33. y2a-2 55. -
11. 25 27 70. x2y-3z2
34. 107
12. −8 x5 71. a-3b-2
56.
35. 10a+b y5
13. 55 72. wx-2y-3z4
36. 103n+1 8a3
14. 256 57. 73. 1
27b6
37. y3
15. 72 74. 8y2
4 2
38. 52 9x y
16. 14 58.
16w 2 z 6 75.
1
39. x 9
17. 56 1
59.
40. 104 a2 76. y
3
18.
8 41. 102 1 77. 1
60. -
x3
19. −21 42. 105 78. 5

13 y3
20. 43. x 61.
16 27
1
44.
21. 25 a6
-7- Basic Exponent Laws with Integer Exponents—Explanation & Practice
2/10/14—mm-fd

461