MCR3U1 Date: ___________________

Day 1: Reviewing the Exponent Laws Chapter 4: Exponential Functions

Reviewing the Exponent Laws

am is a power in exponential form where: m is the exponent a is the base m is a power of base a
In expanded form, am = a x a x a x a … (multiply a by itself as many times as given by the value of m, exponent)
To simplify an expression means to leave the final answer in exponential form.]
RULE EXAMPLE PRACTICE
1) MULTIPLICATION of POWERS Simplify ( 2 a2 b3 ) (−3 a4 b 6)
keep the base, add the exponents. 2
a × a =a
5 7

2) DIVISION of POWERS 9
27 x
Simplify −6
keep the base, subtract the exponents. 3x
5 2 3
a ÷ a =a

3) POWER of a POWER Simplify (a−2)−3 ×3 a6

keep the base, multiply the exponents.
2 5 10
(a ) =a

4) POWER of a PRODUCT 4 4 4 4 3
( 2 a 3 b 2 ) = ( 21 ) ( a 3 ) ( b 2 ) Simplify(−2 a 2 b5 )
distribute the exponent over the
brackets to each term inside. Then ¿ ( 21 × 4 ) ¿
apply rule #3 ¿2 a b
4 12 8

12 8
¿ 16 a b

( )
5) POWER of a QUOTIENT 3 3 5 3
a3 (a )
3
Simplify (
12 x
)
= 23 3
same as rule #4 b
2
(b ) 4y
3 ×3
a
¿ 2 ×3
b
9
a
¿ 6
b
6) NEGATIVE EXPONENT 3 −3
2x
Simplify ( 2
)
reciprocate the base, switch the sign of 3y
() ()
−2 2
the exponent 2 3
−2 1 =
a = 2 3 2
a
= 9/4

7) ZERO EXPONENT 0
x =1 −x =−1
0
Simplify −(14 a3 b−4 )0

1
MCR3U1 Date: ___________________
Day 1: Reviewing the Exponent Laws Chapter 4: Exponential Functions
depending on the sign of the base, it is
either equal to 1 or -1

2
MCR3U1 Date: ___________________
Day 1: Reviewing the Exponent Laws Chapter 4: Exponential Functions
Ex1. Use the exponent laws to simplify the following. (Remember more than one law can be used to simplify an
expression completely.)
a. (4ab4)(-5a3b2) b. (12b2)(8b-4) ÷ (6b-10)

−1 2 3 4
c. ( cd) d. ¿ ¿
2

Ex2. Use the laws of exponents to simplify the following:

2
(−m2 n 3 ) (mn−4 ) 4 a+1
x( x )
a. b.
(mn )
3 4
x a +3

( 34 +26 )
0
( 2−1 +4−2 )
c. d. −2 −1
3
−1
( 2 +4 )

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