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.

x =1
n
x ���
x4�
x 4
4 �
2����
x4 x4 x43x
n -times

n factors of x

Example: 5 = 5 ��
5 53
#2: Multiplying Powers: If you are multiplying Powers
with the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!

m+n
x =x
x � m n

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
n
= x m
�x n
= x
x
So, I get it!
6
When you 2 6- 2
divide 2
= 2 = 2 4

2
Powers, you
subtract the = 16
exponents!
Try these:
12
s
1. 3  3 =
2 2 7. 4
=
s
2. 52  54 = 3 9
8. 5
=
3. a a =
5 2
3
12 8
4. 2 s  4 s =
2 7 s t
9. 4 4
=
st
5. (-3)  (-3) =
2 3
5 8
36a b
10. 4 5
=
6. s t s t =
2 4 7 3
4a b
 SOLUTIONS
2+ 2
1. 3  3 = 3 = 3 = 81
2 2 4

2+ 4
2. 5  5 = 5
2 4
=5 6
5+ 2
3. a a = a
5 2
=a 7

2+ 7
4. 2 s  4 s = 2  4  s
2 7
= 8s 9

2+3
5. (-3)  (-3) = (-3)
2 3
= (-3) = -243
5

6. s t s t =
2 4 7 3
s 2+ 7 4+3
t =s t
9 7
 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 )
n
m
=x mn

So, when I
take a Power
to a power, I
multiply the (5 ) = 5
3 2 3 2
=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
=x �
y n n

So, when I take

a Power of a
Product, I apply
the exponent to ( ab) = a b
2 2 2

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. ( 2 a )
2 3
= 3 
2

4. ( 2 a b )
5 3 2  st 
8
2
= 9.  4  =
 rt 
5. (-3a ) = 2 2
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. 2 a ( ) 2 3
= 2 a
3 23
= 8a 6

( 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
= 9a 4

6. ( s t )
2 4 3 23 43
=s t =s t
6 12
 SOLUTIONS
5 5
s s
7.   = 5
t t
2
3 9
8.  5  = 34
3 
( ) 2
=3 8

2
 st  8
 st 4 2
 s 2 8
t
9.  4  =   = 2
 rt  
 r  r
2
 36a b
5 8

10  4 5
 4a b
 =

(9ab ) 3 2
=9 a b
2 2 32
= 81a b
2 6
#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
So, when I have a
x = m
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
= 3 2
=9
numerator to lose its 3 -2
negative sign!
#8: Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by zero
exponent equals one.

x =1
0

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 t2 4 0
) =  4a b 
 SOLUTIONS

(
1. 2 a b = 1
2
) 1
0

-4 -2
2. y  y = y = 2
2

1 y
( )
3. a 5 -1
= 5
a
-2
4. s  4 s = 4s
7 5

5. ( 3x y ) = (3 x y )
8
-2 3 -4 -4 -12 x
8
=
81y12

(
6. s t 2 4 0
) = 1
 SOLUTIONS
-1 -1
2  2 4 x
7.   = x  = 4
 x   
9 -2
3 
8.  5  = 3 ( ) 4 -2

3
1
-8
=3 = 8
3 
-2
s t 
( )
2 2
- 2 - 2 -2
9.  4 4  = s t =s t
4 4

 s t  -2 10
 36a 5 - - b

10.  4 5  =  9 2
a 2
b10
= 2
81 a
 4a b 