Exponent Rules

Parts
 When a number, variable, or expression is
raised to a power, the number, variable, or
expression is called the base and the power is
called the exponent.

n
b
 What is an Exponent?
 An exponent means that you multiply the base
by itself that many times.
 For example

x4 = x ● x ● x ● x
26 = 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 = 64
 The Invisible Exponent
 When an expression does not have a visible
exponent its exponent is understood to be 1.

1
x x
Exponent Rule #1: Product Rule
 When multiplying two expressions with the
same base you add their exponents.
n m nm
b b b
 For example
2 4 6
x x  x  x
2 4
2 1 2
2 2 2 2  2  2 8
1 2 3
Exponent Rule #1: Product Rule
n m nm
b b b
 Try it on your own:
3 7 3 7 10
1 . h h  h  h
2 2 1 3
2 . 3 3  3  3
 3 3 3  27
 Exponent Rule #2
 When dividing two expressions with the same
base you subtract their exponents.
n
b n  m
b m
b
 For example
4
x 4 2
2
 x x 2
x
 Exponent Rule #2
n
b n m
b m
 b
 Try it on your own:
6
h 6 2 4
3. 2  h  h
h
3
3 3 1 2
4.  3 3  9
3
 Exponent Rule #3
 When raising a power to a power you
multiply the exponents
n m n m
(b )  b
 For example
2 4 24 8
(x )  x  x
2 2
( 2 )  2  2 16
2 2 4
 Exponent Rule #3
n m n m
(b )  b
 Try it on your own
3 2
5 . ( h ) h 32
h 6

2 2
6 . (3 ) 3 2 2
3 81 4
 Exponent Rule #4
 When a product is raised to a power, each
piece is raised to the power
m
( ab)  a b m m
 For example
2
(xy)  x y 2 2

( 2 5)  2 5  4 25 100

2 2 2
 Exponent Rule #4
m
( ab)  a b m m

 Try it on your own

3
7 . ( hk )  h k 3 3

2
8 . ( 2 3)  2 3  4 9 36
2 2
 Exponent Rule #5
 When a quotient is raised to a power, both the
numerator and denominator are raised to the
power m
a a m
   m
b b
 For example
3 3
 x x
   3
 y y
 Exponent Rule #5
m m
a a
   m
b b
 Try it on your own
2 2
 h h
9.    2
k k
2 2
 4 4 16
10.    2  4
 2 2 4
 Zero Exponent
 When anything, except 0, is raised to the zero
power it is 1.
0
a 1 ( if a ≠ 0)

 For example

x 10 ( if x ≠ 0)

0
25 1
 Zero Exponent
0
a 1 ( if a ≠ 0)

 Try it on your own

0
11 . h  1 ( if h ≠ 0)

0
12 . 1000 1
0
13 . 0  undefined
 Negative Exponents
1
n
b  n
 If b ≠ 0, then

 For example b
2 1
x  2
x
2 1 1
3  2
3 9
 Negative Exponents
n 1
 n
If b ≠ 0, then
b


 Try it on your own: b

3 1
14 . h  3
h
3 1 1
15 . 2  3
2 8
 Negative Exponents
 The negative exponent basically flips the part
with the negative exponent to the other half of
the fraction.

 1  b  2
2
  2    b
b   1 
 2   2x 2
  2     2 x 2

x   1 
 Math Manners
 For a problem to be completely
simplified there should not be any
negative exponents
 Mixed Practice
5
6d 5 9 2
1. 9  2 d 4
2d  4
3d d
4 5 4 5
2 . 2 e 4 e 8 e 8e 9
 Mixed Practice

 
3. q 4 5
q 45
q 20

4 . 2 lp   2 l p 32l 5 p 5
5 5 5 5
 Mixed Practice
8 4
2
( x y)4
x y 8 2 4 2
5. 2
 2 2
 x y 6 2
x y
( xy) x y
3 5 2 8 2 16
(x x ) (x ) x 16 9
6. 9
 9
 9
 x x 7
x x x
 Mixed Practice
6 4 2 3 2 5 6
7. (m n ) (m n p )
12 8 18 12 30
 m n m n p
12 18 8 12 30
m n p
30 20 30
m n p
 Mixed Practice
6 5
a d 6 4 5 9
9. 4 9  a d  a 2 d  4
a d
2
a
 4
d