ZERO AND NEGATIVE

EXPONENTS
  us recall the laws of exponents which are
Let
necessary succeed in this module. Review: If a
and b are real numbers and m and n are
positive integers, then
1.) =
2.) =

3. =

4.) =

5.) =
ZERO EXPONENT

Zero Exponent:
X0 = 1, where x ≠ 0
Any number, excluding zero, with an exponent
of zero is equal to one.
To show that x0 = 1, Let us consider the product
x0. x, where x ≠ 0, x0. x = x0 + 1 =x1 thus:
x1 = x.
Example: zero exponent
1.)
   (18 = 1 5.) (++)
1+5(1)+1 = 7
2) (5·)
= 5(1)
=5
3.) (12+6+5 = 1

4.) = = = 1
   us prove this using zero exponent.
 Let


 
Prove: x0 = 1,Use the following properties
Associative property, Multiplicative identity
Multiplicative inverse, Additive inverse
Statements Reasons
a.) Let x be any nonzero a.) Given
number and a be an integer.
b.) xa . x0 = xa + 0 b.)Product rule for exponents
c.) xa . x0 = xa c) Additive Identity
d.) = d.) MPE

e.) ) ·= e.) Associative property

f.) 1· = 1 f.) Multiplicative Inverse

g.) =1 g.) Multiplicative Identity
Try it: Write each expression without
using exponent.
1.)
 

2.) (7

3.) (++)
NEGATIVE EXPONENT
  
Negative Exponent:
= and xn =, where x 0 and n is a counting number

To show that =, let us consider

= addd the exponent

= definition of zero exponent
= 1 divide both side by
=
Example: negative exponent
1.)
   = = 5.) = =

2.) = = =

3.) = = = 25

4.) ( )-3 = = x6 . x3 = x9
Try it:
Simplify
   the following using negative exponent.
1.) x-5 · x2

2.)
a-4 · a-2

3.)

4.)
(3x3)-2