Exponent Rules and Dividing

5.6 Polynomials

1. Divide exponential forms with the same base.

2. Divide numbers in scientific notation.
3. Divide monomials.
4. Divide a polynomial by a monomial.

6. Simplify expressions using rules of exponents.

Objective 1

Divide exponential forms with the

same base.
27
23
27 2222222
3

2 222

1 1 1
7
2 2  2  2  2  2  2  2 24 4
   2
23 2  12  12
1
1

Quotient Rule for Exponents

If m and n are integers

m
and a is a real number,
where a  0, then a  a m n .
an
Divide:

u 5 j6
u 3 j14

u2 j 6  14
 j 8  1
j8
When an equation in one variable is solved the answer is a point on a line .

6 5 3
m x y
3 2 2
m x y
1
m 6  3
m 9  x 3y
m9
Objective 2

Divide numbers in scientific notation.

Divide and write the result in scientific notation.

2.34 107 2.34 107

  3
3.6 10 3
3.6 10

 0.65 107 3

Note: This is not in scientific

 0.65 104 notation.

 6.5 103
Divide and write the result in scientific notation:

5 20
1.32  10 .2  10
15
6.6  10 21
2.0  10
When an equation in one variable is solved the answer is a point on a line .

9.964  104 5.3  10 6

1.88  10 2
Objective 3

Divide monomials.
Divide.

18 x 3 y 6 z 2 18  x 3 y6 z2
4 3
  4  3 
24 x y 24 x y 1
18
  x 3 4  y 63  z 2
24
3 1 3 2
 x y z
4
3 1  y3  z 2
   
4 x 1 1
3 y3 z 2

4x

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Divide.

18 x 3 y 6 z 2 18 x 3 y 6 z 2
4 3
  4  3 
24 x y 24 x y 1

3 1 y3
18 x 3 y 6 z 2
  4  3 
24 x y 1
4 1
x

3y 3 z 2

4x
Dividing Monomials

1. Divide the coefficients or simplify them to

fractions in lowest terms.
2. Use the quotient rule for the exponents with like
bases.
3. Write the final expression so that all exponents
are positive.
Divide:

5 4
4 xy
2 3 3
4 y 4 xy  64 xy

When an equation in one variable is solved the answer is a point on a line .

28 p5q4r
2p 3 r
42 p2q7
3q 3
Objective 4

Divide a polynomial by a monomial.

From arithmetic…

4 7 2 472
  
5 5 5 5

or

472 4 7 2
  
5 5 5 5
Divide.

36 x 6 y 2  9 x 3 y  6 x 36 x 6 y 2 9 x 3 y 6x
2
 2
 2  2
3x y 3x y 3x y 3x y

Divide each term in the

polynomial by the monomial. 2
 12 x y  3 x 
4

xy
Dividing a Polynomial by a Monomial

Divide each term in the polynomial by the

monomial.

If a, b, and c are real numbers, variables, or

expressions with c 0, then a  b  a  b .
c c c
Divide:

4 2 2
16hk  28hk  4h k
2 7
4hk 2
4k   h
k
When an equation in one variable is solved the answer is a point on a line .

30 x 3yz5  15xyz2
 5xyz2  6x z  32 3
Objective 6

Simplify expressions using rules of

exponents.
Exponents Summary
Zero as an exponent: a0 = 1, wherea 0.

Negative exponents: an  1

an
, 1
a n
 an ,   a n
b  a
b n

a m  a n  a m  n
Product rule for exponents:
am mn
 a
Quotient rule for exponents: an

Raising a power to a power: a 

m n
 a mn

 ab 
n
Raising a product to a power:  a nb n

Raising a quotient to a power:   a n

b  an
bn
4m 
2 3

4 3 m6
Use the power rule for exponents.

2m 
4 5 2 m 5 20

Evaluate coefficients.
2 1
64m6
 20
Reduce coefficients.
32m
1 m14

Use the quotient rule for exponents.

2

m14
 2 4
 2x y 
  2 4 x 8 y 4 4 4 4
2 y z 16y 4 z 4
 z1    
  z 4 x8 x8
y 
3 5

y 15
6 8 
y8

y8

1
6 8 y y y 6 y 15 y 21 y 13
y y
Simplify:

3 m6n 1p  2
m 1n 3p
3m 7 n 2
p3
When an equation in one variable is solved the answer is a point on a line .

3y 4 2

6y 
7 3
1
24 y 13
 2
a 
5
Simplify.  3 
a 

4
a) a

b) a16
1
c)
a4
d) 1
a16

5.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 5- 24

 2
a 
5
Simplify.  3 
a 

4
a) a

b) a16
1
c)
a4
d) 1
a16

5.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 5- 25

 Divide.  18 x 6  15x 4  18 x 8
3x 6

5 5 2
a) 6x  6  2
b) 6 2
 6x
x x

5 2 5
c)  6   6x d)  6   6x
x x

5.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 5- 26

 Divide.  18 x 6  15x 4  18 x 8
3x 6

5 5 2
a) 6x  6  2
b) 6 2
 6x
x x

5 2 5
c)  6   6x d)  6   6x
x x

5.6 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 5- 27