Introductory Algebra

Eleventh Edition, Global Edition

Chapter 5
Exponents and
Polynomials

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Section 5.2 Integer Exponents and
the Quotient Rule

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Objectives

1. Use 0 as an exponent.
2. Use negative numbers as exponents.
3. Use the quotient rule for exponents.
4. Use combinations of the rules for exponents.

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Use 0 as an Exponent
Zero Exponent
For any nonzero real number a,
a 0 = 1.
Example: 17  1
0

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Example 1: Use 0 as an Exponent
Evaluate.
(a) 380 = 1

(b) ( - 9) 0 = 1

(c) - 9 0
= -1 ( 9 ) = - 1 (1) = - 1
0

0
(d) x = 1

(e) 5x = 5.1 = 5
0

(f) ( 5x) 0 = 1

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Use Negative Numbers as
Exponents (1 of 4)
Negative Exponents
For any nonzero real number a and any integer n,
n 1
a  n.
a
2 1 1
Example: 3  2  .
3 9

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Example 2: Use Negative Numbers
as Exponents (1 of 2)
Simplify by writing with positive exponents. Assume that all
variables represent nonzero real numbers.

1 1
( a) 9  3 
-3
9 729
3 3 Notice that we can change
1 4 the base to its reciprocal
(b)       64
4 1 if we also change the sign
5 5 of the exponent.
 2   3   243
(c)     
3 2 32

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Example 2: Use Negative Numbers
as Exponents (2 of 2)
Simplify by writing with positive exponents. Assume that all
variables represent nonzero real numbers.

1 1
(d) 6  3  
1 1

6 3
3 3
1 2 (e) 4 
  x 1
6 6
x4
1

6  3x 4

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Use Negative Numbers as
Exponents (2 of 4)
CAUTION
A negative exponent does not indicate a negative
number. Negative exponents lead to reciprocals
Expression Example

31 1
a -n 2  3 Not negative
2 8

-n -3 1 1
-a -2 = - 3 = - Negative
2 8

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Use Negative Numbers as
Exponents (3 of 4)
Changing from Negative to Positive Exponents
For any nonzero numbers a and b and any integers m and
n,
m m
a m
b n
 a  b
n
 m and      .
b a  b  a
5 4 3 3
3 2 4 5
Examples: 4  5 and      .
2 3 5 4

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Use Negative Numbers as
Exponents (4 of 4)
CAUTION a  m bn
Be careful. We cannot use the rule b  n  a m to
change negative exponents to positive exponents if the
exponents occur in a sum or difference of terms. For
example,
52  31
7  23 1 1
2

would be written with positive exponents as 5 3 .
1
7 3
2

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Use the Quotient Rule for Exponents
(1 of 4)

Quotient Rule for Exponents

For any nonzero number a and any integers m and n,
am m n
n
 a .
a
(Keep the same base and subtract the exponents.)

58 8 6
Example: 6  5 =5 =25.
2

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Use the Quotient Rule for Exponents
(2 of 4)

CAUTION 58
A common error is to write 6  186
 12
. This is
5
incorrect.
By the quotient rule, the quotient must have the same
base, 5, so
58
6
 586
=5 2
.
5
We can confirm this by using the definition of exponents to
write out the factors:
58 55555555
6
 .
5 555555
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Example 3: Use the Quotient Rule
for Exponents (1 of 3)
Simplify. Assume that all variables represent nonzero real
numbers.

34 1
(a) 6  3  3  2
46 2
3 3

y 4
(b) 9  y 4( 9)  y 49 y 5
y

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Example 3: Use the Quotient Rule
for Exponents (2 of 3)
Simplify. Assume that all variables represent nonzero real
numbers.

24 ( z  a)7
(c) 5
2 ( z  a)6
24 ( z  a)7
 5 
2 ( z  a)6
 24( 5)  ( z  a )76

 29  ( z  a )

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Example 3: Use the Quotient Rule
for Exponents (3 of 3)
Simplify. Assume that all variables represent nonzero real
numbers.

5x 3 y 8 5 x 3 y 8
(d) 2 4 6  2  4  6
3 x y 3 x y
 5  32  x 34  y 86

 5  9x 7 y 2
45y 2
 7
x

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Use the Quotient Rule for Exponents
(3 of 4)

Definitions and Rules for Exponents

For any integers m and n:

Product rule am · an = am +n

Zero exponent a 0 = 1 (a ≠ 0)

Negative exponent n 1
a  n
a

Quotient rule am mn

 a (a  0)
an
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Use the Quotient Rule for Exponents
(4 of 4)

Definitions and Rules for Exponents (concluded)

For any integers m and n:
m n mn
Power rules (a) (a ) = a
m m
(b) (ab) = a
m
 a a m
(c)
 b   b m (b  0)
Negative-to-Positive
Rules a m bn
n
 m (a, b  0)
b a
m m
 a  b
 b   
 a
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Example 4: Use Combinations of
Rules (1 of 3)
Simplify each expression. Assume all variables represent
nonzero real numbers.

(23 ) 2 2 6
(a)  6
26 2
 2 66
 20
1

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Example 4: Use Combinations of
Rules (2 of 3)
Simplify each expression. Assume all variables represent
nonzero real numbers.

(3y ) 4 (3y ) 2 (3 y ) 42

(b) 1

(3y ) (3 y ) 1
 (3 y )6( 1)
 (3 y )7

 37 y 7
 2187 y 7

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Example 4: Use Combinations of
Rules (3 of 3)
Simplify each expression. Assume all variables represent
nonzero real numbers.

2 2
 5a   2 b 
3 1 4
(c)  1 4    3 
 2 b   5a 
2
 a b 3 4
 1 
 2 5 
a 6 b8

(10) 2
a 6 b8

100
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