Exponents rules and properties

Rule name Rule Example

Product rules
a
n
a
m
= a
n+m
2
3
2
4
= 2
3+4
= 128
a
n
b
n
= (a b)
n
3
2
4
2
= (34)
2
= 144
Quotient rules
a
n
/ a
m
= a
n-m
2
5
/ 2
3
= 2
5-3
= 4
a
n
/ b
n
= (a / b)
n
4
3
/ 2
3
= (4/2)
3
= 8
Power rules
(b
n
)
m
= b
nm
(2
3
)
2
= 2
32
= 64
b
n
m

= b
(n
m
)
2
3
2

= 2
(3
2
)
= 512

m
(b
n
) = b
n/m

2
(2
6
) = 2
6/2
= 8
b
1/n
=
n
b 8
1/3
=
3
8 = 2
Negative exponents b
-n
= 1 / b
n
2
-3
= 1/2
3
= 0.125
Zero rules
b
0
= 1 5
0
= 1
0
n
= 0 , for n>0 0
5
= 0
One rules
b
1
= b 5
1
= 5
1
n
= 1 1
5
= 1
Minus one rule

(-1)
5
= -1
Derivative rule (x
n
)' = nx
n-1
(x
3
)' = 3x
3-1

Integral rule x
n
dx = x
n+1
/(n+1)+C x
2
dx = x
2+1
/(2+1)+C

EXPONENTS PRODUCT RULES
Product rule with same base
a
n
a
m
= a
n+m

Example:
2
3
2
4
= 2
3+4
= 2
7
= 2222222 = 128

Product rule with same exponent
a
n
b
n
= (a b)
n

Example:
3
2
4
2
= (34)
2
= 12
2
= 1212 = 144

To multiply exponential terms with the same base, simply add the exponents.



Example
Problem Simplify.
(a
3
)(a
7
)

(a
3
)(a
7
) The base of both exponents
is a, so the product rule
applies.
a
3+7
Add the exponents with a
common base.
Answer (a
3
)(a
7
) = a
10


When multiplying more complicated terms, multiply the coefficients and then multiply the
variables.

Example
Problem Simplify.
5a
4
7a
6


35 a
4
a
6
Multiply the coefficients.
35 a
4+6
The base of both exponents
is a, so the product rule
applies. Add the exponents.
35 a
10
Add the exponents with a
common base.
Answer 5a
4
7a
6 =
35a
10



Simplify the expression, keeping the answer in exponential notation.
(4x
5
)( 2x
8
)

A) 8x
5
x
8

B) 6x
13

C) 8x
13

D) 8x
40


Show/Hide Answer
A) 8x
5
x
8

Incorrect. 8x
5
x
8
is equivalent to (4x
5
)(2x
8
), but it still is not in simplest form.
Simplify x
5
x
8
by using the Product Rule to add exponents. The correct answer is
8x
13
.

B) 6x
13

Incorrect. 6x
13
is not equivalent to (4x
5
)(2x
8
). In this incorrect response, the
correct exponents were added, but the coefficients were also added together.
They should have been

multiplied. The correct answer is 8x
13
.

C) 8x
13

Correct. 8x
13
is equivalent to (4x
5
)(2x
8
). Multiply the coefficients (4 2) and apply
the Product Rule to add the exponents of the variables (in this case x) that are
the same.

D) 8x
40

Incorrect. 8x
40
is not equivalent to (4x
5
)(2x
8
). Do not multiply the coefficients and
the exponents. Remember, using the Product Rule add the exponents when the
bases are the same. The correct answer is 8x
13
.



EXPONENTS QUOTIENT RULES
Quotient rule with same base
a
n
/ a
m
= a
n-m

Example:
2
5
/ 2
3
= 2
5-3
= 2
2
= 22 = 4
Quotient rule with same exponent
a
n
/ b
n
= (a / b)
n

Example:
4
3
/ 2
3
= (4/2)
3
= 2
3
= 222 = 8

Example
Problem
Evaluate.



These two exponents have
the same base, 4. According
to the Quotient Rule, you can
subtract the power in the
denominator from the power
in the numerator.
Answer
= 4
5




When dividing terms that also contain coefficients, divide the coefficients and then
divide variable powers with the same base by subtracting the exponents
Example
Problem
Simplify.



Separate into numerical
and variable factors.



Since the bases of the
exponents are the same,
you can apply the Quotient
Rule. Divide the
coefficients and subtract
the exponents of matching
variables.
Answer
=



EXPONENTS POWER RULES
Power rule I
(a
n
)
m
= a
nm

Example:
(2
3
)
2
= 2
32
= 2
6
= 222222 = 64
Power rule II
a

n
m

= a

(n
m
)
Example:
2
3
2

= 2
(3
2
)
= 2
(33)
= 2
9
= 222222222 = 512

Power rule with radicals
m
(a
n
) = a
n/m

Example:
2
(2
6
) = 2
6/2
= 2
3
= 222 = 8

Example
Problem Simplify.
6(c
4
)
2


6(c
4
)
2
Since you are raising a power to a
power, apply the Power Rule and
multiply exponents to simplify. The
coefficient remains unchanged
because it is outside of the
parentheses.
Answer 6(c
4
)
2
=

6c
8



Example
Problem Simplify.
a
2
(a
5
)
3




Raise a
5
to the power of 3 by
multiplying the exponents together
(the Power Rule).


Since the exponents share the
same base, a, they can be
combined (the Product Rule).



Answer




Simplify:

A)

B)

C)

D)


Show/Hide Answer
A)
Incorrect. This expression is not simplified yet. Recall that a can also be written
a
1
. Multiply a
1
by a
8
to arrive at the correct answer. The correct answer is .

B)
Incorrect. Do not add the exponents of 2 and 4 together. The Power Rule states
that for a power of a power you multiply the exponents. The correct answer is
.

C)
Incorrect. Do not add the exponents of 2 and 4 together. The Power Rule states
that for a power of a power you multiply the exponents. The correct answer is
.

D)
Correct. Using the Power Rule, .


NEGATIVE EXPONENTS RULE
b
-n
= 1 / b
n

Example:
2
-3
= 1/2
3
= 1/(222) = 1/8 = 0.125