RSM Chapter 2

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Reference material for Chapter
Gr08_3_Prep--Chapter 2. Exponents and Square Roots

Exponents and Square Roots
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Definitions and Laws of Exponents

»Definition: If n is a positive integer greater than 1, then a n represents the product
of n factors where each factor is a .
In a n , a is the base, n is the exponent, and a n is the power.
BASEEXPONENT = POWER
EXAMPLE
In 105, the base is 10, the exponent is 5, and 105 (or 100,000) is the power.
NOTE:
Distinguish between the following.
7x 2 ≠ (7x )2 because
7x 2 = 7(x ⋅ x ), but
(7x )2 = (7x ) ⋅ (7x ) = (7 ⋅ 7) ⋅ (x ⋅ x ) = 49x 2
− 22 ≠ ( − 2)2 because
− 22 = − (2 · 2) = −4, but
( − 2)2 = ( − 2) · ( − 2) = 4
»The Multiplication of Powers Law. To multiply two powers that have the same base,
keep the base and add the exponents.
xm ·xn =xm + n
Can you justify this law?
Examples
1) x 3 · x 2 = x 5
2) ( − 3)3 · ( − 3)2 · ( − 3) = ( − 3)5 · ( − 3) = ( − 3)6
»The Division of Powers Law. To divide two powers that have the same base, keep the
base and subtract the exponents.
xm
If m > n , = xm −n, x ≠ 0
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If m n RSM
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x , x ≠ 0
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The division law allows us to expand the definitions of powers to non-natural exponents.
»Zero Exponent. The zero exponent, or 0th power, of any nonzero number is equal to 1:
xn
x 0 = x n − n = = 1, x ≠ 0
xn
x 0 = 1, x ≠ 0
We define the zero exponent of any nonzero number, since in the definition we assume
that we can divide by this number.
»Negative Exponents. Any nonzero base raised to a negative exponent is equal to the

reciprocal of that base raised to the opposite exponent.
1
x − n = x 0 − n = n , x ≠ 0
x
1
x − n = , x ≠ 0
xn
Just as with zero exponent, the negative exponents are not defined for a base equal to 0.
Examples
x2 1
1) 5 = x -3 = 3 , x ≠ 0
x x
»The Power of a Power. We can raise a power to a power by multiplying the
exponents.
(x m )n = x mn

EXAMPLES
1) (x 2)3 = x 6
2) ((c 2)3)4 = (c 6)4 = c 24
NOTE: n
The powers a m and (a m )n have different meanings.
3
For example, 33 = 327 while (33)3 = 273.
»The Power of a Product. We can distribute raising to a power over multiplication.
(x y )m = x m · y m
EXAMPLES
1) (x 2y 3)2 = (x 2)2(y 3)2 = x 4y 6
2) (2x 2)5 = (2)5(x 2)5 = 25x 10 = 32x 10
»The Power of a Quotient. We can distribute raising to a power over division.
x m xm
( ) = m , y ≠ 0
y y
EXAMPLES
5x 2 2 (5x 2)2 52x 4 25x 4
1) ( ) = = =
7y 3 (7y 3)2 72y 6 49y 6
Laws of Exponents
an ·am =an + m
an n −m
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=a , a ≠ 0
am
(a n )m = a n · m
a 0 = 1, a ≠ 0
1
a − n = n , a ≠ 0
a
(a · b )n = a n · b n
a an
( )n = n , b ≠ 0
b b
»Definition: The arithmetic (or principal) square root of a nonnegative real number

is a nonnegative real number that when raised to the second power gives the original
number. Its symbol is a radical that looks like .
For any a ≥ 0, a = b means b 2 = a and b ≥ 0.
EXAMPLE 1
25 = 5, because 52 = 25 and 5 ≥ 0.
Note that this definition contains two very important conditions that we have to keep in
mind while working with square roots.
The value of any expression under the square root sign has to be nonnegative.
The result of taking a square root of a number is always nonnegative.
Let's see how we can use the definition of the square root to solve some simple equations
with radicals.
EXAMPLE 2
Solve the equation 2x − 3 = 4.
Solution
By the definition of square root, 2x − 3 = 42.
Answer
1
x =9
2
EXAMPLE 3
For what values of x is the following true?
3x − 12 = − 2
Solution
Since the result of taking the arithmetic square root of a number is always
nonnegative, no real value of x will make this equation a true equality.
Answer
There is no solution.
»Definition: The set of all the values of the variable for which an expression is defined
is the domain of the expression.
Since the result of taking the principal square root of any number is always nonnegative,
x 2 ≠ x if x is a negative number.
x , if x ≥ 0
x 2 = x =
− x , if x < 0
EXAMPLE 1
Evaluate.
1) 32
2) ( − 4)2
Solution
1) Since 3 > 0 , the square root of the square of 3 is equal to the number itself: 32 = 3
= 3.
2) Since −4 < 0 , the square root of the square of −4 is equal to the number that
is opposite −4: ( − 4)2 = − 4 = − ( − 4) = 4.
EXAMPLE 2
Simplify.
1) x 6 if x > 0
2) y 22 if y < 0
Solution
1) x 6 = (x 3)2. Since x > 0 , x 3 is also positive, and the square root of the square of x 3 is
equal to the number itself: x 6 = x 3 = x 3.
2) y 22 = (y 11)2. Since y < 0 , y 11 is also negative, and the square root of the square of
y 11 is equal to the number that is opposite y 11: y 22 = y 11 = − y 11.
EXAMPLE 3
Simplify ( 6 − 10)2 .
Solution
( 6 − 10)2 = 6 − 10 .
Since 6 < 10, 6 − 10 < 0.
Therefore, 6 − 10 = − ( 6 − 10) = 10 − 6 .
Answer
10 − 6
Exponential Equations and Logarithms
»Definition: An exponential equation is an equation in which an exponent contains

a variable, such as a 2x + 1 = b 5 or 5x − 1 = 25.
EXAMPLE 1
Solve 24x + 6 = 26x − 2.
Solution
Observe that if b x = b y and b is not 0 or 1, then x = y .
So, 4x + 6 = 6x − 2 and x = 4.
EXAMPLE 2
Solve 5z = 25z − 3.
Solution
To solve this equation in the way that we approached Example 1, we would need
the powers on both sides of the equation to have the same base.
25 = 52, so write 5z = (52)z − 3 = 52z − 6. Thus, z = 2z − 6 and z = 6.
EXAMPLE 3
Solve 152x + 1 = 122x + 1.
Solution
We cannot write 15 and 12 as powers with the same base. However, notice that 15
and 12 are raised to the same exponent.
So, divide both sides of the equation by 122x + 1, and use the power of the quotient rule
to combine the powers.
152x + 1
We get 2x + 1 = 1
12
15 2x + 1
( ) = 1
12
15 2x + 1 15 0
( ) = ( ) (used zero exponent rule)
12 12
1
Therefore, 2x + 1 = 0 and x = − .
2
EXAMPLE 4
Prove that the equation 25x + 3 + x 2 = − 3 has no solution.
Proof
From the definition of the exponent, any power of a positive number is positive.
Therefore, 25x + 3 > 0.
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We also know that an even power of any number is nonnegative, which means that
x 2 ≥ 0.
When we add a nonnegative number to a positive number, the sum is always positive.
So, 25x + 3 + x 2 ≠ − 3 for any real number x .
Example 5
Solve the equation 4x = 23.
Solution
Until we learned about logarithms, we could not write 23 as a power of 4 or 2. Let's say
what we are looking for aloud. We need to find the power of 4 that equals 23. It
sounds like we are looking for a logarithm! Using the definition of the logarithm, we
can write this solution.
x = log4 23
In the previous section, we learned about exponents. Let's explore them further.
Find the exponent to which we need to raise the number in row b to get the corresponding
number in row a .
b 2? 2? 2? 2? 2? 2?
a 2 4 8 16 64 5
It is not always easy to identify the power needed because the exponent may not be an
integer. For example, suppose we want to find the value of "?" in 2?= 5. We know that the
value is not an integer, but we also know that it exists. Can we estimate? Indeed, we can!
Since 22 = 4, we know that 2 is not a great enough exponent. And 23 = 8, so 3 is too great
an exponent. So, we conclude that the exponent we are looking for is between 2 and 3.
How do we denote such an exponent? What symbol should we use?
The Scottish mathematician John Napier answered these questions in 1614. To find an
exponent, he proposed using operation he called a logarithm. The name logarithm is
composed of the following Greek words: αναλόγος (analogia) and αριθμός (arithmos ).
A logarithm is the exponent to which we need to raise a number, called the base, to get the
given result, called the argument. For example, log3 9 = 2 since 32 = 9.
NOTE:
The base of the power is the same as the base of the logarithm.
b 2 2 2 2 2 2
a 2 4 8 16 64 5
c = logb a log2 2 = 1 log2 4 = 2 log2 8 = ? log2 ? = ? log? ? = ? log2 5
»Definition: The logarithm with base b of a number a is the exponent c to which b must

be raised to get a .
Remember that a is called the argument. We write logb a = c .
By definition, logb a = c is equivalent to b c = a.
Exponential form Logarithmic form

bc =a ⇔ logb a = c
So, to find a logarithm, we need to answer the following question. To what exponent do we
need to raise a number, called the base , to get another number, called the argument ?
Logarithms are useful tools in many branches of science. Logarithms are used by
seismologists to measure the magnitude of an earthquake, by biologists to describe the
acidity of blood, and by nuclear engineers to describe the half-life of isotopes. To prepare
for these exciting applications of logarithms, we need to study how logarithms work in
algebra.
EXAMPLE 1
Calculate log5 125.
Solution
Since 53 = 125, we know that log5 125 = 3.
EXAMPLE 2
1
Find the logarithm of 9, of , and of 1, all with base 3.
27
Solution
32 = 9 so log3 9 = 2.
1 1 1
log3 ( ) = − 3 since 3 − 3 = 3 = .
27 3 27
log3 1 = 0 since 30 = 1.
EXAMPLE 3
Write 5 as a logarithm with base 3.
Solution
We know 35 = 243, so log3 243 = 5.

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7/8/22, 2:47 PM RSM Student Portal - Print Chapter Reference

Reference material for Chapter

Gr08_3_Prep--Chapter 2. Exponents and Square Roots

Definitions and Laws of Exponents

Can you justify this law?

Can you justify this law?

The division law allows us to expand the definitions of powers to non-natural exponents.

»Negative Exponents. Any nonzero base raised to a negative exponent is equal to the

Can you justify this law?

»The Power of a Product. We can distribute raising to a power over multiplication.

Can you justify this law?

»The Power of a Quotient. We can distribute raising to a power over division.

Can you justify this law?

»Definition: The arithmetic (or principal) square root of a nonnegative real number

For any a ≥ 0, a = b means b 2 = a and b ≥ 0.

Exponential Equations and Logarithms

»Definition: An exponential equation is an equation in which an exponent contains

How do we denote such an exponent? What symbol should we use?

»Definition: The logarithm with base b of a number a is the exponent c to which b must

Remember that a is called the argument. We write logb a = c .

By definition, logb a = c is equivalent to b c = a.

Exponential form Logarithmic form

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