By John Becking

Exponents
Law 1 Expand to simplify
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/1f7FZun34Sk

Exercise 1
Expand and then Simplify

e.g. A 34 × 32 e.g. B 42 𝑥 3 × 43 𝑥 2 × 4
= 3.3.3.3 × 3.3 = 4.4. 𝑥𝑥𝑥 × 4.4.4𝑥𝑥 × 4
= 36 = 46 𝑥 5

1 25 × 23 2 5 × 52 × 5
3 𝑥2 × 𝑥3 × 𝑥4 4 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2
5 2𝑦 2 × 25 𝑦 3 6 32 . 52 𝑥 2 × 53 𝑥 4
7 33 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 × 34 𝑥 3 𝑦 8 𝑎3 𝑏𝑐 3 × 3𝑎4 𝑐 2 × 2𝑏 4 𝑐

Law 1
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/RSM9GHxdM0s

Exercise 2
Use Law 1 to simplify the following:

e.g. A 34 × 32 e.g. B 42 𝑥 3 × 43 𝑥 2 × 4
= 34+2 = 42+3+1 𝑥 3+2
= 36 = 46 𝑥 5

1 25 × 23 2 5 × 52 × 5
3 𝑥2 × 𝑥3 × 𝑥4 4 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2
5 2𝑦 2 × 25 𝑦 3 6 32 . 52 𝑥 2 × 53 𝑥 4
7 33 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 × 34 𝑥 3 𝑦 8 𝑎3 𝑏𝑐 3 × 3𝑎4 𝑐 2 × 2𝑏 4 𝑐

9 3𝑝 × 33 10 𝑥 𝑎 × 𝑥 2𝑎
*11 𝑥 2𝑎+1 × 𝑥 2𝑎−4 *12 𝑦 2𝑎+𝑏 × 𝑦 𝑎+3𝑏
*13 22 𝑦 2𝑏−3 𝑧 2𝑎 × 23 𝑦 2+𝑏 𝑧 3𝑎

Page 2
Negative Exponents
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/0-Id8-Mef58

Exercise 3
Make all the exponents Positive

e.g. A 3−4 e.g. B = 𝑦 −1

1
1
= 34 𝑦
=1
=𝑦
e.g. C 𝑎−2 e.g. D 2𝑎2 𝑏 −3
𝑏 −8 𝑐𝑑−4
𝑏8 2𝑎2 𝑑4
= 𝑎2 = 𝑐𝑏 3
Notice only the bases with negative
exponents “move”

1
1 2−5 2 𝑦 −3

3 2𝑥 −2 4 3−6 𝑦 2
1 1
5 3𝑝−7
6 7−7 𝑡 7
11 𝑦 −1
7 𝑟 −3
8
𝑧
2𝑥 −2 3.5−2
9 10
3−1 𝑦 2 𝑎−1 𝑏−3
𝑎𝑏 2 𝑐 −3 3𝑠 −4 𝑡 −3 𝑢−1
11 12
𝑑−1 𝑒 4 𝑤 3 𝑥 −3

Law 2 by Expansion
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/0dv2GdIxpik

Exercise 4
Expand and then Simplify

e.g. A 28 e.g. B 𝑥6
24 𝑥7
2.2.2.2.2.2.2.2 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
= = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
2.2.2.2
1
1
2. 12. 12. 12.2.2.2.2 𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥
= =
12. 12. 12. 12 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑥 𝑥
1.1.1.1.1.1
=
1.1.1.1.2.2.2.2 = 1.1.1.1.1.1𝑥
1.1.1.1 1
24 =𝑥
= 1
= 16

Page 3
 e.g. C 112 𝑎4 e.g. D 2.32 𝑥 3 𝑦2
114 𝑎 5.24 𝑥 2 𝑦2
11.11𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 2.3𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦
= 11.11.11.11𝑎 = 5.2.2.2.2𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦
1 1 1
11. 11. 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 1
2.3.3 1𝑥 1𝑥 𝑥 1𝑦 1𝑦
= =
111. 111.11.11 1𝑎 5. 12.2.2.2 1𝑥 1𝑥 1𝑦 1𝑦
1.1.1𝑎𝑎𝑎 1.3.3.1.1.𝑥.1.1
= 1.1.11.11.1 = 5.1.2.2.2
𝑎3 9𝑥
= 112 = 40
𝑎3
= 121

1 53 2 𝑦4
5 𝑦3

3 34 4 𝑥2
36 𝑥5

5 22 𝑎3 6 33 𝑏 3
24 𝑏4

7 53 8 72
52 𝑐 3 7𝑑2

9 2𝑥 2 10 3.53
23 𝑥 2 32. 54

Law 2
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/LTj56Ui7vEo

Exercise 5
Use Law 2 to remove the fraction and then simplify

e.g. A 35 e.g. B 𝑥3
32 𝑥6
=3 5−2 = 𝑥 3−6
= 33 = 𝑥 −3
= 27

e.g. C 112 𝑎4 e.g. D 2.32 𝑥 3 𝑦2

11−4 𝑎 24 .5𝑥 2 𝑦2
2−(−4) 4−1
= 11 𝑎 = 2 . 32 . 5−1 𝑥 3−2 𝑦 2−2
1−4

= 116 𝑎3 = 2−3 . 32 . 5−1 𝑥𝑦 0 {𝑦 0 = 1}

= 2−3 . 32 . 5−1 𝑥

Page 4
 1 53 2 𝑦4
5 𝑦3

3 34 4 𝑥2
36 𝑥5

5 22 𝑎3 6 33 𝑏 3
24 𝑏4

7 53 8 72
52 𝑐 3 7𝑑2

9 2𝑥 2 10 3.53
23 𝑥 2 32. 54

11 𝑥 −2 𝑦 12 𝑎3 𝑏 −2 𝑐 4
𝑥2𝑦3 𝑎𝑏 −1 𝑐 −1

Law 3 Investigating
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/fvXAcp0HbO0

Exercise 6
Simplify the following:

e.g. A (2𝑥 3 )4 e.g. B (53 𝑎𝑏 −2 )2

= 2𝑥 3 . 2𝑥 3 . 2𝑥 3 . 2𝑥 3 = (53 𝑎𝑏 −2 )(53 𝑎𝑏 −2 )
= 21+1+1 . 𝑥 3+3+3 53+3 𝑎1+1 𝑏 −2+(−2)
= 56 𝑎2 𝑏 −4
= 23 𝑥 9
2
e.g. C 𝑥5
(33 )
𝑥5 𝑥5
= (33 ) (33 )
𝑥 5+5
= 33+3
𝑥 10
= 36

1 (𝑎2 )3 2 (3𝑏 3 )2

3 (−22 𝑐 5 )3 4 2
𝑟2
(𝑡5 )
2 ((𝑥 3 )2 𝑥 −1 )3
5 4𝑥 6
(𝑥 5 𝑦 3 )

Page 5
Law 3
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/4ewAq5WGURQ

Exercise 7
Use Law 3 to Simplify

e.g. A (32 )5 e.g. B (𝑥 3 )6

= 32×5 = 𝑥 3×6
= 310 = 𝑥18
e.g. C (53 𝑥 5 )5 e.g. D (11𝑎3 𝑏 −2 )4
= 53×5 𝑥 5×5 = 111×4 𝑎3×4 𝑏 −2×4
= 515 𝑥 25 = 114 𝑎12 𝑏 −8

1 (27 )8 2 (𝑡 6 )2

3 (𝑠 −2 )5 4 (𝑢2 )−4

5 (3−2 )−5 6 (32 𝑎2 )5

7 (7−3 𝑐 2 )−5 8 (13−7 𝑏 −2 )−8

9 (32 𝑎2 (𝑑2 )2 )5 *10 (3𝑥 )5

*11 (52𝑦 𝑎3𝑦 )5 *12 (72𝑧 𝑎3𝑧 )5𝑦

Page 6
Square and Cube Roots
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/p-tJBjzmwPQ

Exercise 8
Simplify

e.g. A √54 e.g. B √𝑎14

= 54÷2 = 𝑎14÷2
= 52 = 𝑎7
3 3
e.g. C √39 e.g. D √𝑏18
= 39÷3 = 𝑏18÷3
= 33 = 𝑏6
e.g. E √441𝑐 4
√32 . 72 𝑐 4 {441 = 32 . 72 }
= 32÷2 . 72÷2 𝑐 4÷2
= 3.7𝑐 2
= 21𝑐 2

1 √76 2 √𝑤 12

3 √1930 4 √24 𝑥10

3 3
5 √76 6 √𝑝21
3 3
7 √218 𝑞 27 8 √113 𝑞 −24
2
9 (√𝑥 2 ) *10 √24𝑎
3
11 √1024𝑎10 12 √3375𝑏 −3

Page 7
Answers
Exercise 1
1 25 × 23 2 5 × 52 × 5
= 2.2.2.2.2 × 2.2.2 = 5 × 5.5 × 5
= 28 = 54
3 𝑥2 × 𝑥3 × 𝑥4 4 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2
= 𝑥𝑥 × 𝑥𝑥𝑥 × 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥 = 𝑦𝑦 × 𝑦𝑦 × 𝑦𝑦 × 𝑦𝑦
= 𝑥9 = 𝑦8
5 2𝑦 2 × 25 𝑦 3 6 32 . 52 𝑥 2 × 53 𝑥 4
= 2𝑦𝑦 × 2.2.2.2.2𝑦𝑦𝑦 = 3.3.5.5𝑥𝑥 × 5.5.5𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
= 26 𝑦 5 = 32 55 𝑥 6
7 33 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 × 34 𝑥 3 𝑦 8 𝑎3 𝑏𝑐 3 × 3𝑎4 𝑐 2 × 2𝑏 4 𝑐
= 3.3.3𝑥𝑥𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦 × 3.3.3.3𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑦 = 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑏𝑐𝑐𝑐 × 3𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑐𝑐 × 2𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑐
= 37 𝑥 5 𝑦 5 = 3.2𝑎7 𝑏5 𝑐 6
= 6𝑎7 𝑏 5 𝑐 6

Exercise 2
1 25 × 23 2 5 × 52 × 5
= 25+3 = 51+2+1
= 28 = 54
3 𝑥2 × 𝑥3 × 𝑥4 4 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2 × 𝑦2
= 𝑥 2+3+4 = 𝑦 2+2+2+2
= 𝑥9 = 𝑦8
5 2𝑦 2 × 25 𝑦 3 6 32 . 52 𝑥 2 × 53 𝑥 4
= 21+5 𝑦 2+3 = 32 . 52+3 𝑥 2+4
= 26 𝑦 5 = 32 55 𝑥 6
7 33 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 × 34 𝑥 3 𝑦 8 𝑎3 𝑏𝑐 3 × 3𝑎4 𝑐 2 × 2𝑏 4 𝑐
= 33+4 𝑥 2+3 𝑦 4+1 = 3.2𝑎3+4 𝑏1+4 𝑐 3+2+1
= 37 𝑥 5 𝑦 5 = 3.2𝑎7 𝑏5 𝑐 6
= 6𝑎7 𝑏 5 𝑐 6
9 3𝑝 × 33 10 𝑥 𝑎 × 𝑥 2𝑎
= 3𝑝+3 = 𝑎𝑎+2𝑎
= 𝑥 3𝑎
11 𝑥 2𝑎+1 × 𝑥 2𝑎−4 12 𝑦 2𝑎+𝑏 × 𝑦 𝑎+3𝑏
= 𝑥 2𝑎+1+(2𝑎−4) = 𝑦 2𝑎+𝑏+(𝑎+3𝑏)
= 𝑥 4𝑎−3 = 𝑦 3𝑎+4𝑏
13 22 𝑦 2𝑏−3 𝑧 2𝑎 × 23 𝑦 2+𝑏 𝑧 3𝑎
= 22+3 𝑦 2𝑏−3+(2+𝑏) 𝑧 2𝑎+3𝑎
= 25 𝑦 3𝑏−1 𝑧 5𝑎

Page 8
Exercise 3
1
1 2−5 2
1 𝑦 −3
= 25 𝑦3
= 1
= 𝑦3
3 2𝑥 −2 4 3−6 𝑦 2
2 𝑦2
= =
𝑥2 36
5 1 6 1
3𝑝−7 7−7 𝑡 7
𝑝7 77
= =
3 𝑡7
7 11 8 𝑦 −1
𝑟 −3 𝑧
11𝑟 3 1
= 1 =
𝑦𝑧
= 11𝑟 3
9 2𝑥 −2 10 3.5−2
3−1 𝑦 2 𝑎−1 𝑏−3
2.3 3𝑎𝑏 3
= =
𝑥 2𝑦2 52
6 3𝑎𝑏 3
= =
𝑥 2𝑦2 25
11 𝑎𝑏 2 𝑐 −3 12 3𝑠 −4 𝑡 −3 𝑢−1
𝑑−1 𝑒 4 𝑤 3 𝑥 −3
𝑎𝑏 2 𝑑 3𝑥 3
= = 𝑠4 𝑡 3 𝑢𝑤3
𝑐3𝑒4

Exercise 4
1 53 2 𝑦4
5 𝑦3
5.5.5 𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦
= =
5 𝑦𝑦𝑦
1 1 1 1
5.5.5 𝑦 𝑦 𝑦𝑦
= =
15 1𝑦 1𝑦 1𝑦
1.5.5 1.1.1𝑦
= 1 = 1.1.1
= 25 =𝑦

3 34 4 𝑥2
36 𝑥5
3.3.3.3 𝑥𝑥
= 3.3.3.3.3.3 = 𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥𝑥
1
1
3. 13. 13. 13 𝑥 1𝑥
= =
13. 13. 13. 13.3.3 1𝑥 1𝑥 𝑥𝑥𝑥
1.1.1.1 1.1
= 1.1.1.1.3.3 = 1.1𝑥𝑥𝑥
1 1
=9 = 𝑥3

Page 9
 5 22 𝑎3 6 33 𝑏 3
24 𝑏4
2.2𝑎𝑎𝑎 3.3.3𝑏𝑏𝑏
= =
2.2.2.2 𝑏𝑏𝑏𝑏
1 1
2. 2𝑎𝑎𝑎 3.3.3 1𝑏 1𝑏 1𝑏
= =
12 12.2.2 1𝑏 1𝑏 1𝑏 𝑏
1.1.𝑎𝑎𝑎
= =
3.3.3.1.1.1
1.1.2.2
1.1.1𝑏
𝑎3
= =
27
4
𝑏
7 53 8 72
52 𝑐 3 7𝑑2
5.5.5 7.7
= 5.5𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 7𝑑𝑑
1 1
5 15.5 7.7
= =
15 15 𝑐𝑐𝑐 17 𝑑𝑑
1.1.5 1.7
= 1.1𝑐𝑐𝑐 = 1𝑑𝑑
5 7
= =
𝑐3 𝑑2

9 2𝑥 2 10 3.53
23 𝑥 2 32. 54
2𝑥𝑥 3.5.5.5
= 2.2.2𝑥𝑥 =
3.3.5.5.5.5
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
2. 𝑥 𝑥 3. 5. 5. 5
= =
12.2.2 1𝑥 1𝑥 13.3. 15 15. 15.5
1.1.1 1.1.1.1
= 1.2.2.1.1 = 1.3.1.1.5
1 1
=4 = 15

Exercise 5
1 53 2 𝑦4
5 𝑦3
= 53−1 = 𝑦 4−3
= 52 =𝑦
= 25
3 34 4 𝑥2
36 𝑥5
4−6
=3 = 𝑥 2−5
= 3−2 = 𝑥 −3
5 22 𝑎3 6 33 𝑏 3
24 𝑏4
2−4 3
=2 𝑎 = 33 𝑏 3−4
= 2−2 𝑎3 = 33 𝑏 −1
= 27𝑏 −1
7 53 8 72
52 𝑐 3 7𝑑2
3−2 −3
=5 𝑐 = 72−1 𝑑 −2
= 5𝑐 −3 = 7𝑑 −2
9 2𝑥 2 10 3.53
23 𝑥 2 32. 54
1−3 2−2
=2 𝑥 = 3 . 53−4
1−2

= 2−2 𝑥 0 = 3−1 . 5−1

= 2−2

Page 10
 11 𝑥 −2 𝑦 12 𝑎3 𝑏 −2 𝑐 4
𝑥2𝑦3 𝑎𝑏 −1 𝑐 −1
−2−2 1−3 3−1 −2−(−1) 4−(−1)
=𝑥 𝑦 =𝑎 𝑏 𝑐
= 𝑥 −4 𝑦 −2 = 𝑎2 𝑏 −1 𝑐 5

Exercise 6
1 (𝑎2 )3 = 𝑎2 . 𝑎2 . 𝑎2 2 (3𝑏 3 )2 = 3𝑏 3 . 3𝑏 3
= 𝑎2+2+2 = 31+1 𝑏 3+3
𝑎6 = 32 𝑏 6
= 9𝑏 6
3 (−22 𝑐 5 )3
= (−22 𝑐 5 )(−22 𝑐 5 )(−22 𝑐 5 ) {−𝑣𝑒 × −𝑣𝑒 × −𝑣𝑒 = −𝑣𝑒}
= −22+2+2 𝑐 5+5+5
= −26 𝑐 15
4 𝑟2
2
5 4𝑥 3 4𝑥 4𝑥 4𝑥
( 5) ( 5 3) = ( 5 3) ( 5 3) ( 5 3)
𝑡
𝑟2 𝑟2
𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦 𝑥 𝑦
= ( 𝑡 5 ) (𝑡 5 ) 41+1+1 𝑥 1+1+1
= 𝑥 5+5+5 𝑦 3+3+3
𝑟 2+2
= 43 𝑥 3
𝑡 5+5 = 𝑥 15 𝑦 9
𝑟4
= 𝑡 10 = 43 𝑥 3−15 𝑦 −9
= 64𝑥 −12 𝑦 −9
6 ((𝑥 3 )2 𝑥 −1 )3
= (𝑥 3 . 𝑥 3 . 𝑥 −1 )3
3
= (𝑥 3+3+(−1) )
= (𝑥 5 )3
= 𝑥5. 𝑥5. 𝑥5
= 𝑥 5+5+5
= 𝑥15

Exercise 7
1 (27 )8 2 (𝑡 6 )2
= 27×8 = 𝑡 6×2
= 256 = 𝑡12
3 (𝑠 −2 )5 4 (𝑢2 )−4
= 𝑠 −2×5 = 𝑢2×(−4)
= 𝑠 −10 = 𝑢−8
5 (3−2 )−5 6 (32 𝑎2 )5
= 3−2×(−5) = 32×5 𝑎2×5
= 310 = 310 𝑎10
7 (7−3 𝑐 2 )−5 8 (13−7 𝑏 −2 )−8
= 7−3×(−5) 𝑐 2×(−5) = 13−7×(−8) 𝑐 −2×(−8)
= 715 𝑐 −10 = 1356 𝑐 16
9 (32 𝑎2 (𝑑2 )2 )5 *10 (3𝑥 )5
= (32 𝑎2 𝑑2×2 )5 = 3𝑥×5
= 32×5 𝑎2×5 𝑑4×5 = 35𝑥
= 310 𝑎10 𝑑 20

Page 11
 *11 (52𝑦 𝑎3𝑦 )5 *12 (72𝑧 𝑎3𝑧 )5𝑦
= 52𝑦×5 𝑎3𝑦×5 = 72𝑧×5𝑦 𝑎3𝑧×5𝑦
= 510𝑦 𝑎15𝑦 = 710𝑦𝑧 𝑎15𝑦𝑧

Exercise 8
1 √76 2 √𝑤 12
= 76÷2 = w12÷2
= 73 = 𝑤6
3 √1930 4 √24 𝑥10
= 1930÷2 = 24÷2 𝑥10÷2
= 1915 = 22 𝑥 5
= 4𝑥 5
3 3
5 √76 6 √𝑝21
= 76÷3 = p21÷3
= 72 = 𝑝7
= 49
3 3
7 √218 𝑞 27 8 √113 𝑞 −24
= 218÷3 q27÷3 = 113÷3 q−24÷3
= 26 q9 = 11q−8
2
9 (√𝑥 2 ) *10 √24𝑎
= (𝑥)2 = 24a÷2
= 𝑥2 = 22𝑎
3
11 √1024𝑎10 12 √3375𝑏 −3
3
√210 𝑎10 √33 . 53 𝑏 −3
= 210÷2 a10÷2 = 33÷3 . 53÷3 b−3÷3
= 25 a5 = 3.5b−1
= 15b−1

Page 12