Summary of Exponents – Mind Action Series p56-68

Objectives
Master the following key concepts about Exponents:
 Theory
 Exponents Laws
 Negative Exponents
 Roots
 Exponential Equations
 Scientific / Standard Notation

Theory

𝑎𝑛
Exponent Laws
𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛
Example
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:

1. (6𝑚2 𝑛2 )(−2𝑚3 𝑛)

Page 1 of 6
𝑎𝑚 ÷ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛
Examples
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:
33
1.
35

−12𝑥 3 𝑦2
2.
−3𝑥𝑦 3

𝑎0 = 1
Examples
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:
1. (−4𝑥)0

2. −4𝑥 0 + 1

Page 2 of 6
(𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚×𝑛
(𝑎 × 𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 𝑏 𝑛
𝑎 𝑛 𝑎𝑛
( ) = 𝑛
𝑏 𝑏
Examples
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:

1. (−2𝑥𝑦 3 )3

2𝑥 5 ×(−3𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )2
2.
36𝑥 12 𝑦 4

Page 3 of 6
Negative Exponents
1 1
𝑥 −𝑛 = = 𝑥𝑛
𝑥𝑛 𝑥 −𝑛

Examples
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:

1. −3𝑥 −2 𝑦

2. (3𝑥 −2 𝑦) ÷ (6𝑥 3 𝑦 −5 )

Page 4 of 6
Roots
Examples
Simplify the following, leaving your answer with positive exponents:

1. √25𝑥 10

3
2. √−125𝑦15

3. √16𝑥 16 + 9𝑥 16

Exponential Equations
Step 1: Arrange the equation so that we have ONLY 1 term = 1 term
Step 2: Bases must be the same. Use prime factors.
Step 3: If the bases are identical then the exponents must be equal.
Step 4: “Drop” the bases and solve the unknown.
Examples
Solve for the unknown:

1. 32𝑥 = 81

Page 5 of 6
2. 52 × 5𝑥 = 125

Scientific / Standard Notation

How to write numbers in scientific notation:
1. Move the comma
2. Moving left will result in a positive exponent
3. Moving right will result in a negative exponent
Examples
1. The radius of the planet Saturn is approximately 60 268 km.
Write this in scientific notation.

2. The probability of winning the lottery is approximately 0,071511.

Write this number in scientific notation.

3. The mass of an object is approximately 7,35 × 103 kg.

Write this in standard notation.

Page 6 of 6