Exponents:
You were introduced to exponents in Grade 8 (these can also be called index/indices).
Remember that when we write a number with an exponent, it shows us how many times
you multiply a number by itself.
The base: this is the
number we are
34 The exponent: this is the
number of times the base is
multiplying by itself. multiplied by itself.
The whole structure is referred to as a power
In the example above, we are multiplying 3 by itself 4 times: 3 × 3 × 3 × 3
The coefficient: This is
2𝑥 6 Still the exponent
the number which sits in
front of the variable
Still the base
In the example above, we are multiplying 𝒙 by itself 6 times. We then multiply that whole
expression by 2: 2(𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑥)
We are going to take what we learnt last year and find general rules which we can aply to
exponents.
Multiplying powers with the same bases:
When we multiply powers, first we look at the bases.
If bases ARE NOT the same: We CAN NOT simplify the expression.
If bases ARE the same: We can simplify the expression.
Step 1: Put down the base
Step 2: Add the exponents.
34 × 35 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3
There are a total of nine 3s
= 39
1
Worked Example 1: Simplify 42 × 45
Both of the bases are the same so we know we can add their
exponents
𝟒𝟐 × 𝟒𝟓 = 𝟒𝟕
Remember that
this base has an
Worked Example 2: Simplify 𝑥 × 𝑥 7 × 𝑥 3 exponent of 1
All of the bases are the same so we know we can add their
exponents
𝒙 × 𝒙𝟕 × 𝒙𝟑 = 𝒙𝟏𝟏
Worked Example 3: Simplify 2𝑥 3 × 4𝑥 4
Both of the bases are the same so we know we can add their
exponents
2𝒙𝟑 × 4𝒙𝟒 = 8𝒙7 The exponents have NOTHING to do with
the coefficients. If there are coefficients
before the letters, we multiply the
numbers and variables separately
Worked Example 4: Simplify 42 × 97
Because the bases are different, we CAN NOT add the
exponents
NOTE: This type can be simplified by finding what 42 is equal
to, finding what 97 is equal to and multiplying the two
answers together.
From the above we can make a general rule for when we multiply powers with the SAME
bases:
RULE: 𝒂𝒎 × 𝒂𝒏 = 𝒂𝒎+𝒏
NOTE: We can multiply powers with different bases BUT ONLY if the EXPONENTS are the
same. We will cover this later on in the note.
Exercise: Exercise 5.1 pg42
2
Dividing powers with the same bases:
REMEMBER that when we divide powers, the bases have to be the SAME.
Let’s look at the example below:
45 4×4×4×4×4
= = 4 × 4 × 4 = 43
42 4×4
There are two 4s in the denominator which can divide into two 4s in the numerator
(cancelled out) and we are left with three 4s in the numerator.
What we notice is that when we divide powers, we are able to subtract the denominator’s
exponent from the numerator’s exponent.
𝟒𝟓
= 𝟒𝟓−𝟐 = 𝟒𝟑
𝟒𝟐
610
Worked Example 1: Simplify
68
The bases are the same so we know we can subtract their
exponents
𝟔𝟏𝟎
= 𝟔𝟏𝟎−𝟖 = 𝟔𝟐
𝟔𝟖
𝑦 18
Worked Example 2: Simplify
𝑦7
The bases are the same so we know we can subtract their
exponents
𝒚𝟏𝟖
= 𝒚𝟏𝟖−𝟕 = 𝒚𝟏𝟏
𝒚𝟕
3𝑝6
Worked Example 3: Simplify
6𝑝4
The bases are the same so we know we can subtract their
exponents
3𝒑𝟔 𝒑𝟔−𝟒 𝒑𝟐
= =
6𝒑𝟒 2 2
In this example remember the
exponents refer only to the base
immediately in front of them. The
numbers 3 and 6 are coefficients
and are divided separately.
3
47
Worked Example 4: Simplify
92
REMEMBER because the bases are different, we CAN NOT
subtract the exponents
9𝑥 2
Worked Example 5: Simplify
6𝑥 7
The bases are the same so we know we can subtract their
exponents Negative exponents will be
9𝒙𝟐 3𝒙𝟐−𝟕 3𝒙−𝟓 explained later in the note.
= =
6𝒙𝟕 2 2
From the above we can make a general rule for when we divide powers with the SAME
bases:
𝒂𝒎
RULE: = 𝒂𝒎−𝒏
𝒂𝒏
REMEMBER that we cannot EVER divide
something by zero so this rule assumes that
the base is not equal to zero
Exercise: Exercise 5.2 pg43
4
Powers with a further exponent:
We now know how to multiply and divide powers with the same bases. We need to learn
how to raise a power to a further exponent.
What happens if I have:
34 × 34 × 34 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3
= (34 )3
= 312
Worked Example 1: Simplify 4(𝑥 5 )3
4(𝑥 5 )3 = 4(𝑥 5 ) × (𝑥 5 ) × (𝑥 5 )
= 4𝑥15
Worked Example 2: Simplify (𝑎2 )3 + 2𝑎6
(𝑎2 )3 + 2𝑎6 = (𝑎2 ) × (𝑎2 ) × (𝑎2 ) + 2𝑎6
BODMAS says you
6 6
= 𝑎 + 2𝑎 must do the
multiplication first
= 3𝑎6
From the above we can make a general rule:
RULE: (𝒂𝒏 )𝒎 = 𝒂𝒎×𝒏
From now on we do not need to show the expansion like in the above examples as we can
just apply the rule. Remember that
each element in the
Worked Example 3: Simplify 52 (𝑥 2 𝑦)3 + 2(𝑥𝑦 2 )5
bracket is effected
52 (𝑥 2 𝑦)3 + 2(𝑥𝑦 2 )5 = 25𝑥 2×3 𝑦1×3 + 2𝑥1×5 𝑦 2×5 by the exponent
= 25𝑥 6 𝑦 3 + 2𝑥 5 𝑦10
We cannot simplify
further because of
unlike terms.
Worked Example 4: Simplify (23 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 2 )2
We CANNOT multiply
(23 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 2 )2 = (8𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 2 )2
exponents over + or – sign.
= (11𝑥 2 )2 First simplify the bracket to 1
term and then implement the
= 121𝑥 4 𝒏 𝒎 𝒎×𝒏
rule (𝒂 ) = 𝒂
Exercise: Exercise 5.5 pg46
5
Negative exponents:
Power Expanded form
𝒂𝟑 𝑎×𝑎×𝑎
Divide by a
𝒂𝟐 𝑎×𝑎
ANYTHING to the power 𝒂𝟏 𝑎 Divide by a
of 0 equals 1:
𝒂𝟎 1
0
𝑎 = 1 Divide by a
𝒂−𝟏 1
so long as 𝑎 does NOT = 0. 𝑎
𝒂−𝟐 ? Divide by a
How do you think we write 𝑎−2 :
We must be able to recognise a pattern from above:
If the exponent is positive, then the base and exponent are in the
numerator.
If the exponent is negative, then the base and exponent are in the
denominator.
1
Therefore 𝑎−2 =
𝑎2
From the above we can make a 2 general rules:
Firstly, when we have negative exponents:
1
RULE: 𝒂−𝒏 =
𝒂𝒏
Secondly, when we have a base raised to the power of zero:
RULE: 𝒂𝟎 = 𝟏
Worked Example 1: Simplify 2−2 + 3−2
1 1
2−2 + 3−2 = +
22 32
1 1
= +
4 9
9+4
=
36
13
=
36
6
Getting an answer with a negative exponent in the denominator happens when we divide
two powers where the denominator's exponent is larger than the numerator's exponent.
68
Worked Example 2: Simplify
612
𝟔𝟖
= 𝟔𝟖−𝟏𝟐 = 𝟔−𝟒
𝟔𝟏𝟐
1
𝟔𝟒
𝑥5
Worked Example 3: Simplify
𝑥 14
𝒙𝟓
= 𝒙𝟓−𝟏𝟒 = 𝒙−𝟗
𝒙𝟏𝟒
1
𝒙𝟗
𝑝6
Worked Example 4: Simplify
𝑝−2
𝒑𝟔
= 𝒙𝟔−(−𝟐) = 𝒑𝟖
𝒑−𝟐
25𝑥 7
Worked Example 5: Simplify
5𝑥 13
25𝒙𝟕
= 5𝒙𝟕−𝟏𝟑 = 5𝒙−𝟔
5𝒙𝟏𝟑
5 REMEMBER the negative exponent
𝒙𝟔 refer only to the base immediately in
front of it. The coefficient 5 does NOT
get brought down to the denominator.
𝑝9 𝑞 5 𝑟 3
Worked Example 6: Simplify
𝑝6 𝑞 −2 𝑟 2
𝒑𝟗 𝒒𝟓 𝒓𝟑
= 𝒑𝟗−𝟔 𝒒𝟓−(−𝟐) 𝒓𝟑−𝟐 = 𝒑𝟑 𝒒𝟕 𝒓
𝒑𝟔 𝒒−𝟐 𝒓𝟐
𝑥2
Worked Example 7: Simplify
𝑦7
REMEMBER because the bases are different, we CAN NOT
simplify the expression
7
−3
2𝑥 5
Worked Example 8: Simplify ( )
𝑥3
−3
2𝑥 5 1 1
( 𝑥3 ) = −𝒏
2𝑥5
3 Use the rule 𝒂 =
( 3) 𝒂𝒏
𝑥
1
= 8𝑥15
Use the rule (𝒂𝒏 )𝒎 = 𝒂𝒎×𝒏
( 9 ) REMEMBER a power applies to
𝑥
every element inside the bracket
𝑥9
=1×
8𝑥 15
TIP and TIMES
𝑥9
=
8𝑥 15
Exercise: Exercise 5.3 pg44
Powers with different bases and the same exponent:
We have said above that if we have powers with different bases, that we cannot add or
subtract the exponents.
HOWEVER, the only time we CAN multiply and divide bases which ARE NOT the same is
when their exponents ARE the same.
Multiplying:
Worked Example 1: Simplify (𝑥𝑦)3
(𝑥𝑦)3 = 𝑥𝑦 × 𝑥𝑦 × 𝑥𝑦
= 𝑥×𝑥×𝑥×𝑦×𝑦×𝑦
= 𝑥3 × 𝑦3
= 𝑥3𝑦3
Worked Example 2: Simplify (𝑝2 𝑞 3 )3
(𝑝2 𝑞 3 )3 = 𝑝2 𝑞 3 × 𝑝2 𝑞 3 × 𝑝2 𝑞 3
= 𝑝2 × 𝑝2 × 𝑝2 × 𝑞 3 × 𝑞 3 × 𝑞 3
= (𝑝2 )3 × (𝑞 3 )3
= 𝑝6 𝑞 3
From the above we can make a general rule:
RULE: (𝒂𝒃)𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏 × 𝒃𝒏
8
Worked Example 3: Using the above rule, simplify (𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 )5 + 2𝑥10 𝑦 5 𝑧15
(𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 3 )5 + 2𝑥10 𝑦 5 𝑧15 = 𝑥10 𝑦 5 𝑧15 + 2𝑥10 𝑦 5 𝑧15
= 3𝑥10 𝑦 5 𝑧15
The above rule can also be used in the reverse:
RULE: 𝒂𝒏 × 𝒃𝒏 = (𝒂𝒃)𝒏
Worked Example 4: Simplify 43 × 53
Even though the bases which ARE NOT the same, the
exponents ARE the same so we can use the reverse rule
43 × 53 = 4 × 4 × 4 × 5 × 5 × 5
=4×5×4×5×4×5
= (4 × 5)3
= 203
Worked Example 5: Simplify 74 × 24 × 34
The bases which ARE NOT the same BUT the exponents ARE
the same
74 × 24 × 34 = 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3
= 7×2×3×7×2×3×7×2×3×7×2×3
= (7 × 2 × 3)4
= 424
Dividing:
7 3
Worked Example 1: Simplify ( )
15
7 3 7 7 7
(15) = 15 × 15 × 15
7×7×7
=
15×15×15
73
=
153
9
𝑥𝑦 3
Worked Example 2: Simplify ( )
3𝑧
𝑥𝑦 3 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦
( 3𝑧 ) = 3𝑧
×
3𝑧
×
3𝑧
𝑥𝑦×𝑥𝑦×𝑥𝑦
=
3𝑧×3𝑧×3𝑧
(𝑥𝑦)3
=
(3𝑧)3
𝑥3𝑦3
=
27𝑧 3
From the above we can make a general rule:
𝒂 𝒏 𝒂𝒏
RULE: ( ) =
𝒃 𝒃𝒏
4
3𝑝4 𝑞
Worked Example 3: Using the above rule, simplify ( )
𝑝𝑞 3
4 4
3𝑝4 𝑞 3𝑝3
( 𝑝𝑞3 ) = ( 𝑞2 )
(3𝑝3 )4
= (𝑞 2 )4
81𝑝12
=
𝑞8
The above rule can also be used in the reverse:
𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒏
RULE: =( )
𝒃𝒏 𝒃
95
Worked Example 4: Simplify
35
The bases which ARE NOT the same BUT the exponents ARE
the same
95 9×9×9×9×9
=
35 3×3×3×3×3
9 9 9 9 9
= × × × ×
3 3 3 3 3
9 5
=( )
3
= 35
10
𝑥3
Worked Example 5: Simplify
𝑦3
The bases which ARE NOT the same BUT the exponents ARE
the same
𝑥3 𝑥×𝑥×𝑥
=
𝑦3 𝑦×𝑦×𝑦
𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
= × ×
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦
𝑥 3
=( )
𝑦
42
Worked Example 6: Simplify
97
REMEMBER because the bases AND exponents are different,
we CAN NOT simplify
Exercise: Exercise 5.4 pg45
11