Math Xb—Spring 2004

Properties of Exponents

Note that log x = log10 x and exp(x) = ex .

1. Find the expression that is equivalent to

(xy)−3
.
xy −3
x
(a) xy 3 (d)
1 y3
(b) 4 (e) x4
x
1
(c)
xy 3

2. Find the expression that is equivalent to

25x .

(a) e2x ln 5 (d) e5 ln x

(b) e2 ln x
(c) e5x ln 2 (e) e10 ln x

3. Find the expression that is equivalent to

(a−x+1 b)3
.
(a2 b3 )x

(ab)x (ab)3
(a) (c)
(a5 b3 )3 (a5 b3 )x
(a5 b3 )3
(d)
(a5 b3 )x (ab)x
(b) (e) a−2x−1 b6+x
(ab)3

1
4. Find the expression that is equivalent to

a2x + ax+1 .

(a) (ax + a)ax (d) (ax + a)a

(b) a3x+1
2
(c) a2x +2x (e) None of the above.

5. Find the expression that is equivalent to

 a −x
(ab2 )x + .
b
ax
   
1
(a) + a bx
x
(d) a b + x ax x x
bx a
 
1
 
(b) ax bx + x bx 1
x x
(e) a b + x bx
b a
 
1
x x
(c) a b + x ax
b

6. Find the expression that is equivalent to

a2x − b2x
.
ax + bx

(a) ax + bx a2x + b2x

(d)
(b) ax bx 2
a2x − b2x
(c) (e) ax − bx
2

7. Find the expression that is equivalent to

e2x + ex − 2.

(a) (ex − 1)(ex + 2) (d) (ex + 1)(ex + 2)

(b) e3x − 2
(c) (ex − 1)(ex − 2) (e) (ex + 1)(ex − 2)

2
 8. Find the expression that is equivalent to

e−(ln x)/2 .
1 √
(c) − x
(a) − √
x x
(d) −
1 2
(b) √ √
(e) x
x

9. Find the expression that is equivalent to

e2 ln x−ln y .

(a) 2x − y (d) x2 − y
y x
(b) 2 (e) 2
x y
x2
(c)
y

10. Find the expression that is equivalent to

5e−3 ln 2 .
8 5
(a) (d)
5 8
(b) −40
5
(c) −30 (e) −
8

Answers
1. b 3. c 5. e 7. a 9. c

2. c 4. a 6. e 8. b 10. d