Powers

and
Exponents
 Multiplication = short-cut addition

When you need to add the same number to

itself over and over again,
multiplication is a short-cut way to write the
addition problem.

Instead of adding 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10
multiply 2 x 5 (and get the same answer) = 10
 Powers = short-cut multiplication

When you need to multiply the same

number by itself over and over again,
powers are a short-cut way to write the
multiplication problem.

Instead of multiplying 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 32
Use the power 25 (and get the same answer) = 32
A power =
a number written as
a base number with an exponent.

exponent
base
Like this:

5 say
2 to the 5th power
2
The base(big number on the bottom)=
the repeated factor in a
multiplication
problem.
base exponent = power
factor x factor x factor x factor x factor = product
2 x 2 x 2 x2 x 2 = 32
The exponent (little number on the top
right of base) = the number of

times the base is

multiplied by itself.

5
2
2(1
st
time) x 2(2 nd
time) x 2(3 rd
time) x 2(4 th
time) x 2(5 th
time) = 32
How to read powers and exponents

Normally, say “base number to the exponent

number (expressed as ordinal number)
power”

5 say
2 to the 5th power
2
Ordinal numbers: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th,…
 squared = base2

2 say
2 to the 2nd power or two squared
2
MOST mathematicians say two squared

2 =2x2=4
2
 cubed = base3

3 say
2 to the 3rd power or two cubed
2
MOST mathematicians say two cubed

2 =2x2x2=8
3
 Common Mistake

2 ≠
5
2x5
(does not equal)

2 ≠
5
10
(does not equal)

2 =2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2= 32
5
 Common Mistake

-2 ≠ 4
(does not equal) (-2) 4
Without the parenthesis, positive 2 is
multiplied by itself 4 times; then the answer is
negative.

With the parenthesis, negative 2 is multiplied by

itself 4 times; then the answer becomes positive.
 Common Mistake

(-2) = - 2 x -2 x -2 x -2 = +16
4

Why?
Multiply the numbers: 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16 and
then multiply the signs:
1st negative x 2nd negative = positive;
that positive x 3rd negative = negative;
that negative x 4th negative = positive;
so answer = positive 16
When the exponent is 0,
and the base is any number but 0, the answer is 1.

20 = 1
4,6380 = 1
Any number(except the number 0)0= 1

00 = undefined
 When the exponent is 1,
the answer is the same number as the base number.

21 = 2
4,6381 = 4,638
any number1= the same base
“any number”
01 = 0
The exponent 1
is
usually
invisible.
 The invisible exponent 1

21 = 2
4,6381 = 4,638
any number1 = the
same
base “any number”
01 = 0
 The invisible exponent 1

2=2
4,638 = 4,638
any number = the same
“any number” as the base
0=0
The exponent 1 is here. Can you see it? It’s invisible. Or. It’s understood.
“Write a power as a product…”
power = write the short-cut way

means 2 5=

2x2x2x2x2
product = write the long way = answer
“Find the value of the product…”
means
answer

25 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 32
power = product = value of the product
(and value of the power)
 “Write prime factorization using
exponents…”
125 = product5 x 5 x 5 so
125 = power 53 = answer using exponents
product 5 x 5 x 5 = power 53
Same exact answer written two different ways.
 Congratulations!
Now you know how to write a multiplication
problem as a product using factors, or
as a power using exponents (this can be
called exponential form).
You know how to (evaluate) find the value
(answer) of a power.
 Notes for teachers
Correlates with Glencoe Mathematics (Florida Edition)
texts:
Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course 1:
(red book)
Chapter 1 Lesson 4 Powers and Exponents
Mathematics: Applications and Concepts Course
2: (blue book)
Chapter 1 Lesson 2: Powers and Exponents
Pre-Algebra: (green book)
Chapter 4 Lesson 2: Powers and Exponents
For more information on my math class see
http:// walsh.edublogs.org