EXPONENT RULES & PRACTICE

1. PRODUCT RULE: To multiply when two bases are the same, write the base and ADD the exponents.


 

Examples:
A.     

B. 2 2  2

C.           

2. QUOTIENT RULE: To divide when two bases are the same, write the base and SUBTRACT the exponents.





Examples:
A.




 

B.







 3

C.

 
 

 

3. ZERO EXPONENT RULE: Any base (except 0) raised to the zero power is equal to one.

  
Examples:
A.    1

B. 6  1

C. 7

 


1

4. POWER RULE: To raise a power to another power, write the base and MULTIPLY the exponents.

  

Examples:
A.      

B. 3   3

C. "    "


5. EXPANDED POWER RULE:




# 
 #



$# %  # 

Examples:
A. 2   2

8



C. $  % 

B. 6    6     36 

'  (

 

)

*

 )

 

  

 

D. $ %         +,

6. NEGATIVE EXPONENTS: If a factor in the numerator or denominator is moved across the fraction bar, the sign
of the exponent is changed.


 


-






$# %

# 

 $
%

Examples:

A.     


D. $  %
F.



0 - 1
2 -) 3 -4

 

 



1 2 ) 3
0

C. /4    

E. 3  /2    /6 

   



 $  %   ,


B. 4   


G. /2     $

  
%
)

)

*

 $  %   )

CAUTION: / 5 
For example: /3 5 
REMEMBER: An exponent applies to only the factor it is directly next to unless parentheses enclose other factors.
Examples:
B. /3  /9
A. /3  /3/3  9

EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Simplify:

1. 3 4

15.

2. 4 2

3.    
4. 2  2
5.
6.




16.

,
 



7

28.

 )

17. $
18. $

)

27.

  

 )
  

 

%
%

19.  +

7. 8
8. /9

9.   
10.  
 7

11.  )
 

12.  
13. 289   89
14. 2:;  :;

30.
31.

23.    

   -

35. 4    

25.  <  +

37. $ 0 1)2  %

26. = 
 =  =  

 4

 >
*

19.  7

 4,

12. 2 
+


13. 48 9

14. 16:
 ;
15.    

+0 1 2 @

 0 1 2 @

38. $ 0 12 7 %

29. B)
30.  
31. 2


32.  )  ,

33.  ,

20. <

11. 3 

 7  

36. 5 2    

5. 36

10.  

 )  -)

24.  

4. 4 

 -*

34.

18.

9. 

 ,

22. -)

8. /1

 ->

33. 2    

21.  -

17.

7. 1

 -)

20. 7

2. 8 



 -7

32.
 ,  

16. 

6.

  ,

1. 192

 -*

29. :  : :  

EXPONENTS PRACTICE ANSWERS

3. 

 -4

,

21.  

34.    7

22. 16

35.

23. 

36.

24.  ,
25. 

26. A
27.  +
28. 4


37.
38.

 4
 4

 ,


0) 1 ) 2 4


<1  2 4)
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