Exponents

exponent

Power 5 3

base

Example: 125  53 means that 53 is the exponential

form of the number 125.

53 means 3 factors of 5 or 5 x 5 x 5
The Laws of Exponents:
#1: Exponential form: The exponent of a power indicates
how many times the base multiplies itself.

n
x  x  x  
x 
 x x x x
n times

n factors of x

3
Example: 5  5  5  5
#2: Multiplying Powers: If you are multiplying Powers
with the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!

m n mn
x x  x
So, I get it!
When you
multiply
Powers, you
2 6  23  2 6 3  29
add the  512
exponents!
#3: Dividing Powers: When dividing Powers with the
same base, KEEP the BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!
m
x m n mn
n
 x  x  x
x
So, I get it!
6
When you 2 6 2 4
divide  2  2
22
Powers, you
subtract the  16
exponents!
Try these:
12
s
2
1. 3  3  2 7. 4

s
2. 52  54  3 9
8. 5

3. 5
a a  2
3
12 8
2
4. 2 s  4 s  7 s t
9. 4 4

st
2 3
5. (3)  (3)  5 8
36a b
10. 4 5

6. 2 4
s t s t  7 3
4a b
 SOLUTIONS
2 2 2 2 4
1. 3  3  3  3  81
2 4 6
2. 5  5  5
2 4
5
5 2 7
3. a a  a
5 2
a
2 7 27 9
4. 2 s  4 s  2  4  s  8s
2 3 23 5
5. (3)  (3)  (3)  (3)  243

2 4 7 3 2 7 43 9 7
6. s t s t  s t s t
 SOLUTIONS
12
s s 12  4
 s 8
7. 4

s
9
3 3 9 5
 3 4
 81
8. 5

3
12 8
s t s 12  4 8 4
t  s 8 4
t
9. 4 4

st
5 8
36a b 36  4  a 5 4 85
b  9 ab 3
10. 4 5

4a b
#4: Power of a Power: If you are raising a Power to an
exponent, you multiply the exponents!

x m n mn
x
So, when I
take a Power
to a power, I
multiply the 3 2 3 2 5
(5 )  5 5
exponents
#5: Product Law of Exponents: If the product of the
bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is a
multiplication of individual factors of the product, each powered
by the given exponent.

 xy 
n n n
x y
So, when I take
a Power of a
Product, I apply 2 2 2
the exponent to ( ab)  a b
all factors of
the product.
#6: Quotient Law of Exponents: If the quotient of the
bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is both
numerator and denominator , each powered by the given exponent.
n n
 x x
   n
 y y
So, when I take a
Power of a
Quotient, I apply 4 4
the exponent to 2 2 16
all parts of the    4 
quotient. 3 3 81
Try these: 5
s
1. 3  2 5
 7.   
t2
2. a 3 4
   39 
8.  5  
3. 2a 
2 3
 3 
2

4. 2 a b 
2 5 3 2  st 
8
 9.  4  
2 2
 rt 
5. (3a )  5 8 2
 36a b 
10.   
4 5 
 
6. s t 2 4 3
  4a b 
 SOLUTIONS

 
1. 3 2 5
 310

 
2. a 3 4
 a12

3. 2a 
2 3 3 23 6
 2 a  8a

 2
4. 2 a b 5 3 2
  2 22 a 52b 32  2 4 a10b 6  16a10b 6

5. (3a )   3  a
2 2 2 22 4
 9a

6. s t2 4 3
 23 43 6 12
s t s t
 SOLUTIONS
5 5
s s
7.    5
t t
2
3 9
8.  5   34
3 
  2
3 8

2
 st  8 4 2

9.  4    st  s 2 8
t
   2
 rt   r  r
2
 36a b
5 8

10  4 5
 4a b
 

9ab  3 2 2
9 a b 2 32 2 6
 81a b
#7: Negative Law of Exponents: If the base is powered
by the negative exponent, then the base becomes reciprocal with the
positive exponent.
m 1
x  m
So, when I have a
Negative Exponent, I x
switch the base to its
reciprocal with a
Positive Exponent.
Ha Ha! 3 1 1
5  3 
If the base with the 5 125
negative exponent is in and
the denominator, it
moves to the 1 2
2
 3 9
numerator to lose its 3
negative sign!
#8: Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by zero
exponent equals one.
0
x 1
So zero 50  1
factors of a
and
base equals 1.
That makes a0  1
sense! Every and
power has a (5a ) 0  1
coefficient
of 1.
Try these: 1
2 
2

1. 2a b2 0
 7.   
 x 2
2. y 2  y 4   39 
8.  5  
3. a  5 1
 3 
2
2
4. s  4 s  7 s t 
2 2
9.  4 4  
s t 
5. 3 x y 2
 3 4
 36a 5 2

10.  4 5  
6. s t  
2 4 0
 4a b 
 SOLUTIONS


1. 2 a b  1 2

0

1
3. a 
5 1
 5
a
2 7 5
4. s  4 s  4s
8
x
5. 3 x y2 3 4
  3 x y
4 8 12
 
81y12

 
6. s t 2 4 0
 1
 SOLUTIONS
1 1
2  2 4 x
7.    x   4
 x   
9 2
3  1
8.  5   3  
4 2 8
3  8
3
3 
2
s t 
 
2 2
 2  2 2 4 4
9.  4 4   s t s t
 s t  2 10
 36a 5  2  2 10 b

10.  4 5    9 a b  2
81 a
 4a b 