Chapter 1_Exponents

1.2 Properties of Powers

1. Powers of Negative numbers.

To show that a negative number is raised to a power, we enclose the

negative number in parentheses.

For example, to indicate the square of -5, we write

(−5)2 = (−5)(−5) = 25

ATTENTION: The placement of parentheses changes the meaning of the

expressions!

Example: Compute each power.

a) −42 b) (−4)2 c) −(4)2 d) (−42 )
Solution.
a) Only 4 is squared: −42 = −4 · 4 = −16

b) The negative number is squared: (−4)2 = (−4)(−4) = 16

c) Only 4 is squared: −(4)2 = −(4) · (4) = −16

d) Only 4 is squared, and the entire expression appears within parentheses:

(−42 ) = (−4 · 4) = −16

2. 𝑎0 = 1 and 𝑎1 = 𝑎

3. 𝑎𝑚 ∙ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛

4. (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚∙𝑛

𝑎 𝑎𝑛
5. (𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛

6. (𝑎 ∙ 𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 ∙ 𝑏 𝑛