stm

G7 2.3

Laws of Exponent

Perform Algebraic Expressions using the Laws of Exponent.

Specific Objectives
1. Identify and differentiate laws of exponent.
2. Apply Laws of Exponent.

Materials

• Pen
• Laptop
• Bond paper or intermediate paper

Lesson
In the expression 𝑎𝑛 , a is called the base, and n is called the exponent. The
whole expression is read as “a to the nth power”.

An exponent, which is a natural number, tells how many times its base is
to be used as a factor, an exponent of 1 means the base is to be used one time as
a factor, an exponent 2 means that its base is to be used two times as a factor, and
so on. Thus,

𝑥 1 = 𝑥, 42 = 4 ∗ 4 = 16, 𝑦 3 = 𝑦 ∗ 𝑦 ∗ 𝑦, 33 = 3 ∗ 3 ∗ 3 = 27.

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 Laws of Exponent:

PRODUCT RULE:
am · an = am+n (when multiplying like bases, add the powers)

POWER RULE:

(ambm)n = amnbmn (when taking a monomial to a power,

multiply the powers including the coefficient)

QUOTIENT RULE:

am = am - n (when dividing with like bases, subtract the powers)

an

(Note: it is always the numerator's power minus the denominator's power)

ZERO EXPONENT RULE:

a0 = 1, b0 = 1 (any number raised to zero except zero equals zero)

NEGATIVE EXPONENT RULE:

𝟏
a-m = (Exponent in answer must be always a positive
𝒂𝒎
integer. Thus, we must get the reciprocal part of
the base to make exponent positive.)

Worked Example 1

𝑎7
a) 72 b) (𝑎2 )3 c) (𝑎2 𝑏 5) (𝑎3 𝑏 2) d)
𝑎3

Solution:

a) 72 = 7 * 7 = 49

b) (𝑎2 )3 =𝑎6 (Apply power rule)

c) (𝑎2 𝑏 5) (𝑎3 𝑏 2) = 𝑎5 𝑏 7 (Apply product rule)

𝑎7
d) = 𝑎4 (Apply quotient rule)
𝑎3

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 Worked Example 2

a) 12-4(128) b) (5a4b6)(12abc)0(-2a2bc5) c) -42m6n-3p5

6m11n-5p5

Solution:

a) 12-4(128) = 12-4+8 =124 (product rule)

or = 1 • 128 (negative power rule)

124
= 128 - 4 = 124 (quotient rule)

b) (5a4b6) (12abc)0(-2a2bc5) = (5a4b6) (1) (-2a2bc5) (zero power rule)

= -10a6b7c5 (product rule)

c) -42m6n-3p5 = -7m6-11 n-3-(-5) p5-5 (quotient rule)

6m11n-5p5
= -7m-5n2p0 (Negative & Zero power rule)

= -7n2
m5

Worked Example 3

a) 2m7n3 • (3mp8)3 b) (7xy)(-x4y3)5(2x5y6)-2

(3n5p-3)2 2mn6

Solution:

a) 2m7n3 • (3mp8)3 = 2m7n3 • 27m3p24 (power rule)

(3n5p-3)2 2mn6 9n5p-6 2mn6

= 54m10n3p24 (product rule)

18mn11p-6

= 3 m10-1n3-11 p24 - (-6) (quotient rule)

= 3m9n-8p30

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 = 3m9p30 (negative power rule)
n8

b) (7xy) (-x4y3)5(2x5y6)-2 = (7xy) (-15x20y15) (2-2x -10y -12) (power rule)

= (7xy) (-x20y15) (x -10y -12) (negative power rule)

22

= -7 x1+20-10 y1+15-12 (product rule)

4

= -7 x11 y4
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EXERCISES

BASIC
A. TRUE OR FALSE:
1) Any number raised to zero is equals to 1.
2) 𝟑𝟐 is equals to 6.
𝟏
3) 𝟓−𝟐 = 𝟐𝟓
4) (𝟐𝒂𝟐 )𝟑 = 𝟐𝒂𝟓
5) Product rule stated that when multiplying like bases, just add the
power/exponent.

B. Match column A with column B.

A. B.
1) 𝒙 𝟒
a. 𝒙
𝒎𝒏

2) 𝒙𝒎 * 𝒙𝒏 b. 𝒙𝒎−𝒏
3) (𝒙𝒎 )𝒏 c. 𝒙𝒎+𝒏
4) (𝒙𝒎 𝒚𝒏 )𝟐 d. x * x * x * x
𝒙𝒎
5) e. 𝒙𝟐𝒎 𝒚𝟐𝒏
𝒙𝒏

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INTERMEDIATE
Simplify the following expressions. Write the final answers without
negative exponents:

−64𝑚12 + 24𝑚10
1)
4𝑚8

2) (12𝑎12 𝑏 4 𝑐 7 )(3𝑎8 𝑏−5 𝑐 2 )2

3) (4𝑥 3 𝑦 4 𝑧 −2 )2 (𝑤 −3 𝑥 2 𝑦 4 )−1

 58   5 −6 
4)  −2
   7 
5  5 
2 3
 x 6m   x4 
5)  2 m+3   m 
x  x 
ADVANCED
Solve the following:

(3𝑥 5 𝑦 −2 𝑧 4 )3
1)
(2𝑥 7 𝑦 −8 𝑧 −4 )2

(2𝑎−5 𝑏 3 𝑐 2 )3
2)
(5𝑎7 𝑏 8 𝑐 3 )2

4𝑥 5 𝑦 −3 𝑧 2 −3
3) ( 3 −5 )
2𝑥 𝑧

Closure

A. Please check the box if you can do it already.

• I can identify and differentiate different laws of exponent.

• I can apply laws of exponent.
• I still need guidance in applying laws of exponent.

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B. If you have questions in mind, please use the space below to address it.
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References

Orlando A. Oronce, and Marilyn O, Mendoza 2019. E – Math Worktext in

Mathematics. Sampaloc, Manila City: Rex Publishing House.