Section 2.

3 - Exponent Laws

2.3 Exponent Laws

Multiplying with Exponents

The Product Rule

If a is a real number, and m and n are integers, then:

am # an = am+n ^ a ! 0h

(When multiplying, if the bases are the same, keep the base, and add the exponents)

Common Mistakes:

1. 23 # 24 ! 43 + 4 = 4 7

2. 23 # 24 ! 43 # 4 = 412

3. 23 # 24 ! 23 # 4 = 212

Example 1 Simplify.

a) 35 # 34

b) 23 # 24 # 2 6
Section 2.3 - Exponent Laws

Dividing with Exponents

The Quotient Rule

If a is a real number, and m and n are integers, then:

a m a m - n , ^ a ! 0h
=
an
(When dividing, if the bases are the same, keep the base, and subtract the exponents)

Common Mistakes:
8
1. 32 ! 34
3
8
2. 32 ! 18 - 2 = 16 = 1
3
8
3. 32 ! 14
3

Example
2 Simplify.
8 4 5
a) 54 b) 3 #6 3
5 3
Section 2.3 - Exponent Laws

Zero Exponent

The Zero Exponent Rule

For any non-zero real number a:

a0 = 1, ^ a ! 0h

(Any non-zero number real number raised to the zero power is one, 00 is undefined

`2
3j =
0
Examples: 30 = 1, 1

Combined Operations

Example
3 Simplify
a) ^- 2h5 # 23

^- 3h8
b)
34

c) 2 7 - 22 # 23

5
d) 3 # 34 + 33
3
Section 2.3 - Exponent Laws

2.3 Exercise Set

1. Determine if the expression is true or false. If it is false, correct the expression.

a) ^- 5h0 =- 1 b) 23 # 26 = 2 9

8
c) 24 = 22 d) 34 # 35 = 9 9
2

7
e) 24 = 23 f) 2 # 30 = 1
2

g) -^- 2h4 = 24 h) -^- 2h3 = 23

2. Which of the following is equal to one?

a) 3 # 20 b) - 3 # 20 c) ^3 # 2h0 d) 3^- 2h0

3. Simplify.

a) 30 b) - 30

c) ^- 3h0 d) 2 # 30

e) ^2 # 3h0 f) -^2 # 3h0

g) ^- 2 # 3h0 h) ^2 + 3h0

i) 20 + 30 j) - 20 - 30
Section 2.3 - Exponent Laws

4. Multiply and simplify. Leave answer in exponential form.

a) 25 # 24 b) 35 # 33

c) ^- 2h4 ^- 2h3 d) 54 # 53 # 50

e) ^- 3h4 ^- 3h2 ^- 3h3 f) 43 # 40 # 4

g) 7 # 72 # 74 h) ^- 4h^- 4h2 ^- 4h3

i) 23 # 24 # 3 # 32 j) ^- 3h^- 3h3 ^- 5h2 ^- 5h4

5. Divide and simplify. Leave answer in exponential form.

6 8
a) 2 3 b) 34
2 3

^- 3h5 ^- 1h8
c) d)
^- 3h2 ^- 1h3

9 6
^- 2h5 # 74
e) 45 # 32 f)
4 #3 ^- 2h5 # 7
Section 2.3 - Exponent Laws

6. Simplify. Leave answer in exponential form.

7 5
^- 3h4 ^- 3h3
a) 2 #8 2 b)
2 ^- 3h5

57 ^- 7h4 ^- 7h5
c) d)
5 # 54
3
^- 7h3 ^- 7h2

7. Simplify, then evaluate.

a) 23 # 24 - 22 # 23 b) 25 ' 2 + 24 # 22

c) ^- 3h4 + ^- 3h6 ' ^- 3h5 - ^- 3h2 d) 3 7 ' ^36 ' 33h ' 32

^- 2h5 + ^- 2h2 ^- 3h4 - 32

e) f)
^- 2h4 ^- 3h3