LAW OF

EXPONENTS, REAL
NUMBERS
AND
QUADRATIC
FUNCTION

Submitted To:

Submitted By:
Ms. Jizelle Marie Enrile
LAW OF EXPONENTS
Exponential notation is a short way of writing the same number multiplied by itself
many times. We will now have a closer look at writing numbers using exponential
notation. Exponents can also be called indices.

For any real number

times as

and natural number

, we can write a multiplied by itself

Identity 1
1.
2.

because

3.

because

Examples:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

is undefined)
is undefined)

6.

There are several laws we can use to make working with exponential numbers easier.
Some of these laws might have been done in earlier grades, but we list all the laws
here for easy reference:
Identity 2

where

and

Example 1: Applying the exponential laws

Question
Simplify:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Answer:
1.

2.
3.
4.

Example 2: Exponential expressions

Question

Simplify:

(1)

(2)

Example 3: Exponential expressions

Question

Simplify:

Answer
Change the bases to prime numbers

(3)
Subtract the exponents (same base)

(4)
Write the answer as a fraction

(5)

Example 4: Simplifying by taking out a common factor

Question

Simplify:

Answer
Simplify to a form that can be factorised
(6)
Take out a common factor
(7)

Cancel the common factor and simplify

(8)

Example 5: Simplifying using difference of two squares

Question

Simplify:

Answer
Change the bases to prime numbers

(9)
Factorise using the difference of squares
(10)
Simplify
(11)

Exercises:
Problem :
Simplify without using a calculator:
1.
2.

3.

4.

5.
6.
7.

8.

9.
10.
11.

12.

Answer:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

REAL NUMBERS

Real Numbers include all the rational and irrational numbers.

Real numbers are denoted by the letter R.
Real numbers consist of the natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, rational, and
irrational numbers.

Examples of Real Numbers

Natural numbers, whole numbers, integers, decimal numbers, rational numbers,

and irrational numbers are the examples of real numbers.
Natural Numbers = {1, 2, 3,...}
Whole Numbers = {0, 1, 2, 3,...}
Integers
= {..., -2, -1, 0, 1, 2,...}
, 10.3, 0.6,

, 3.46466466646666...,

are few more examples.

Solved Example on Real Numbers

Name the subset(s) of the real numbers to which '- 25' belongs.
Choices:
A. integers, rational numbers, real numbers
B. whole numbers, integers, rational numbers, real numbers

C. natural numbers, whole numbers, integer numbers, rational numbers, real numbers
D. irrational numbers, real numbers
Correct Answer: A

Solution:
Step 1: - 25 is an integer.

Step 2: The set of integers is a subset of the rational numbers and the real numbers.
Step 3: Therefore, the subsets to which - 25 belongs to are: integers, rational
numbers, and the real numbers.

EXERCISES:
Tell whether the following numbers are rational or irrational.
1)
2) 3/10
3)

4)

5)
6)

ANSWER:
1) Rational
2) Rational
3) Irrational
4) Rational
5) Irrational
6) Rational

QUADRATIC FUNCTION
A quadratic function, a quadratic polynomial, a polynomial of degree 2, or
simply a quadratic, is a polynomial function in one or more variables in which the
highest-degree term is of the second degree. For example, a quadratic function in
three variables x, y, and z contains exclusively terms x2, y2, z2, xy, xz, yz, x, y, z, and a
constant:

with at least one of the coefficients a, b, c, d, e, or f of the second-degree terms

being non-zero.
A univariate (single-variable) quadratic function has the form[1]

in the single variable x.The graph of a univariate quadratic function is

a parabola whose axis of symmetry is parallel to the y-axis, as shown at right.
If the quadratic function is set equal to zero, then the result is a quadratic equation.
The solutions to the univariate equation are called the roots of the univariate
function.

The bivariate case in terms of variables x and y has the form

with at least one of a, b, c not equal to zero, and an equation setting this function
equal to zero gives rise to a conic section (a circle or other ellipse, a parabola, or
a hyperbola).

STANDARD FORM OF A QUADRATIC FUNCTION AND VERTEX

Any quadratic function can be written in the standard form .

f(x) = a(x - h) 2 + k
where h and k are given in terms of coefficients a, b and c.
Let us start with the quadratic function in general form and
complete the square to rewrite it in standard form.
Given function f(x)
f(x) = ax 2 + bx + c
factor coefficient a out of the terms in x 2 and x
f(x) = a ( x 2 + (b / a) x ) + c
add and subtract (b / 2a) 2 inside the parentheses
f(x) = a ( x 2 + (b/a) x + (b/2a) 2 - (b/2a) 2 ) + c

Note that
x 2 + (b/a) x + (b/2a) 2
can be written as
(x + (b/2a)) 2
We now write f as follows
f(x) = a ( x + (b / 2a) )
which can be written as
f(x) = a ( x + (b / 2a) )

- a(b / 2a) 2 + c

- (b 2 / 4a) + c

This is the standard form of a quadratic function with

h = - b / 2a

k = c - b 2 / 4a

When you graph a quadratic function, the graph will either have a maximum or a
minimum point called the vertex. The x and y coordinates of the vertex are given
by h and k respectively.

Example 1 :
Write the quadratic function f given by f(x) = -2 x 2 + 4 x + 1 in standard form and
find the vertex of the graph.
Solution

given function
f(x) = -2 x 2 + 4x + 1
factor -2 out
f(x) = -2(x 2 - 2 x) + 1
We now divide the coefficient of x which is -2 by 2 and that gives -1.
f(x) = -2(x 2 - 2x + (-1) 2 - (-1) 2) + 1
add and subtract (-1) 2 within the parentheses
f(x) = -2(x 2 - 2x + (-1) 2) + 2 + 1
group like terms and write in standard form
f(x) = -2(x - 1) 2 + 3
The above gives h = 1 and k = 3.

h and k can also be found using the formulas for h and k obtained above.
h = - b / 2a = - 4 / (2(-2)) = 1
k = c - b 2 / 4a = 1 - 4 2/(4(-2))= 3

Example 2:
Graph the equation y = x2 + 2.

Here are some points:

Here is a graph:

Connecting the dots in a "U'' shape gives us

Example 3:

Graph the quadratic equation y = -x2 + 2x + 3.

We know what we have to find, so let's find it.
1. What are the intercepts?
First, the x-intercepts. We need to find the roots of the quadratic polynomial. If we find them, we can
celebrate by drinking a root beer.
We need to find the solutions to the equation
0 = -x2 + 2x + 3
= -(x2 2x 3).
This equation factors as
0 = -(x 3)(x + 1),
so the solutions (and the x-intercepts) are
x = 3, x = -1.
We can graph these points:

The y-intercept is the constant term, 3, so we can graph that also:

2. What is the vertex?

The vertex occurs halfway between the x-intercepts -1 and 3, so at x = 1. When we plug x = 1 in to the
quadratic equation, we find
-(1)2 + 2(1) + 3 = 4,
so the vertex occurs at (1, 4).
3. Does the parabola open upwards or downwards?
Since the coefficient on the x2 term is negative, the parabola opens downwards.
Putting together all the pieces, we find our graph:

Example 4:
Graph the quadratic equation y = 3x2 + x 3.

Let's find the useful things. Other than duct tape, a Swiss army knife and a compass. We meant more within
the realm of algebra. We should have been clearer.
1. What are the intercepts?
To find the x-intercepts, we need to use the quadratic equation because this polynomial doesn't factor nicely.
We find

.
For the purposes of graphing, we can round these numbers to 0.8 and -1.2:

The y-intercept is the constant term of the quadratic equation, or -3:

2. What is the vertex?

The vertex is at
When we plug

The vertex is

, which in this case is

back into the equation, we find

For the sake of graphing, as well as for the sake of our own sanity, we can round to (-0.2, -3.1).

3. Does the parabola open upwards or downwards?

Since the coefficient on the x2 term is positive, the parabola opens upwards. Like a blossoming flower. That's
so nice.
Putting everything together, we get our graph: