Simplifying Expressions with Exponents 

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Simplifying Expressions

To simplify with exponents, don't feel like you have to work only from the rules for exponents. It is often
simpler to work directly from the definition and meaning of exponents. For instance:

 Simplify x6 × x5

The rules tell me to add the exponents. But I when I started algebra, I had trouble keeping the
rules straight, so I just thought about what exponents mean. The " x6 " means "six copies
of x multiplied together", and the " x5 " means "five copies of x multiplied together". So if I multiply
those two expressions together, I will get eleven copies of x multiplied together. That is:

x6 × x5 = (x6)(x5)  
            = (xxxxxx)(xxxxx)    (6 times, and then 5 times) 
            = xxxxxxxxxxx         (11 times)  
            = x11  

Thus:

x6 × x5 =   x11

 Simplify the following expression:

The exponent rules tell me to subtract the exponents. But let's suppose that I've forgotten the
rules again. The " 68 " means I have eight copies of 6 on top; the " 65 " means I have five copies
of 6 underneath.

How many extra 6's do I have, and where are they? I have three extra 6's, and they're on top.
Then:
  Simplify the following expression:

How many extra copies of t do I have, and where are they? I have two extra copies, on top:

 Simplify the following expression: Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2004-2011 All Rights Reserved

How many extra copies of 5 do I have, and where are they? I have six extra copies, underneath:

Note: If you apply the subtraction rule, you'll end up with 53–9 = 5–6, which is mathematically correct, but is
almost certainly not the answer they're looking for. Whether or not you've been taught about negative
exponents, when they say "simplify", they mean "simplify the expression so it doesn't have any negative
or zero powers". Some students will try to get around this minus-sign problem by arbitrarily switching the
sign to magically get " 56 " on top (rather than below a "1"), but this is incorrect.

 Simplify the following expression:

Don't forget that the "5" and the "3" are just numbers. Since 3 doesn't go evenly into 5, I can't
cancel the numbers. Don't try to subtract the numbers, because the 5 and the 3 in the 
fraction " 5/3 " are not at all the same as the 5 and the 3 in rational expression " x5 / x3 ". The
5
/3 stays as it is.
 For the variables, I have two extra copies of x on top, so the answer is:

Either of the purple highlighted answers should be

acceptable: the only difference is in the formatting;
they mean the same thing.

 Simplify (–46x2y3z)0

This is simple enough: anything to the zero power

is just 1.

(–46x2y3z)0 = 1

 Simplify –(46x2y3z)0

The parentheses still simplifies to 1, but this time the "minus" is out front, out from under the
power, so the exponent doesn't touch it. So the answer is:

–(46x2y3z)0 = –1

 Simplify the following expression:

I can cancel off the common factor of 5 in the number part of the fraction:

Now I need to look at each of the variables. How many extra of each do I have, and where are
they? I have two extra a's on top. I have one extra b underneath. And I have the same number
of c's top and bottom, so they cancel off entirely. This gives me:

Recall that negative exponents mean to move the base to the other side of the fraction line. For instance:
In the context of simplifying with exponents, negative exponents can create extra steps in the
simplification process. For instance:

 Simplify the following:

The negative exponents tell me to move the bases, so:

  
Then I cancel as usual, and get:

 
  

When working with exponents, you're dealing with multiplication. Since order doesn't matter for
multiplication, you will often find that you and a friend (or you and the teacher) have worked out the same
problem with completely different steps, but have gotten the same answer in the end. This is to be
expected. As long as you do each step correctly, you should get the correct answers. Don't worry if your
solution doesn't look anything like your friend's; as long as you both got the right answer, you probably
both did it "the right way".

 Simplify the following expression: (–3x–1y2)2

I can either take care of the squaring outside,and then simplify inside, or else I can simplify inside,
and then take the square through. Either way, I'll get the same answer; to prove this, I'll show
both ways. Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2004-2011 All Rights Reserved

simplifying first squaring first

 
  

 Simplify the following expression: (–5x–2y)(–2x–3y2)

Again, I can work either of two ways: multiply first and then handle the negative exponents, or
else handle the exponents and then multiply the resulting fractions. I'll show both ways.

multiplying first doing the exponents first

 

Neither solution method (in the table above) is "better" or "worse" than the other. The way you work the
problem will be a matter of taste or happenstance, so just do whatever works better for you.

 Simplify the following expression:   ADVERTISEMENT

The negative exponent is only on the x,

not on the 2, so I only move the variable:
  Simplify the following expression:

The "minus" on the 2 says to move the variable; the "minus" on the 6 says that the 6 is negative.
Warning: These two "minus" signs mean entirely different things, and should not be confused. I
have to move the variable; I should not move the 6.

 Simplify the following expression:

I'll move the one variable with a negative exponent, cancel off the y's, and simplify:

Simplifying Expressions with Exponents:

     Complicated Examples

 Simplify the following expression:

Before I can cancel anything off, I need to simplify that top parentheses, because it has a negative exponent on it. I can't
cancel off, say, the a's, because that a4 isn't really on top. I can either move the whole parentheses down, square, and then
simplify, or I can take the negative-square through first. I'll show both ways:

moving the parentheses first

 squaring first

There are other ways to go about simplifying the above. As long as each step is correct and you get the right answer, your method will
be right. Copyright © Elizabeth Stapel 2004-2011 All Rights Reserved

 Simplify the following expression:

This is a special case. The negative exponent says that whatever is on top should go underneath, and whatever is
underneath should go on top. So I'll just flip the fraction (remembering to change the power from a negative to a positive), and
simplify from there:

Warning: This only works if the negative exponent is on the whole fraction.

 Simplify the following expression:

There are so many ways I can do this. I'll show four:

flip inside, simplify, negative cube, flip, and simplify:

  

  
flip inside, simplify, flip the fraction, and cube:
  

  
flip the fraction, simplify inside, cube, flip the negative exponents, and
simplify:
  

  
flip the fraction, flip the negative exponents, simplify, and cube:

  
   
You should expect to see at least one exercise on your test that is as complicated as this last example. Just take your time, work
slowly and carefully, and don't try to do too much at once. If you work bit by bit, you should be able reliably to get the right answer.