Exponent Rules

Parts
◼ When a number, variable, or expression is
raised to a power, the number, variable, or
expression is called the base and the power is
called the exponent.

n
b
 What is an Exponent?
◼ An exponent means that you multiply the base
by itself that many times.
◼ For example

x4 = x●x ●x●x
26 = 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 ● 2 = 64
 The Invisible Exponent
◼ When an expression does not have a visible
exponent its exponent is understood to be 1.

x=x 1
 Exponent Rule #1
◼ When multiplying two expressions with the
same base you add their exponents.
n+m
b b =b
n m
◼ For example
2+ 4
x x = x = x
2 4 6

22 = 2 2 = 2 = 2 = 8
2 1 2 1+ 2 3
 Exponent Rule #1
n+m
b b =b
n m
◼ Try it on your own:
3+ 7
1. h  h = h = h
3 7 10

2 +1
2. 3  3 = 3 = 3
2 3

= 3  3  3 = 27
 Exponent Rule #2
◼ When dividing two expressions with the same
base you subtract their exponents.
n
b −
m
= b n m
b
◼ For example
4
x 4−2
2
= x = x 2
x
 Exponent Rule #2
n
b n−m
m
= b
b
◼ Try it on your own:
6
h 6−2
3. 2 = h = h 4

h
3
3 3 −1
4. = 3 =3 = 9
2

3
 Exponent Rule #3
◼ When raising a power to a power you
multiply the exponents
n m
(b ) = bn m
◼ For example

(x ) = x = x
2 4 2 4 8

( 2 ) = 2 = 2 = 16
2 2 22 4
 Exponent Rule #3
n m
(b ) = b
n m

◼ Try it on your own

3 2
5. ( h ) = h 3 2
=h 6

22
= 3 = 81
2 2
6 . (3 ) = 3 4
 Note
◼ When using this rule the exponent can not be
brought in the parenthesis if there is addition
or subtraction

(x + 2 )  x + 2
2 2 2 4 4

You would have to use FOIL in these cases

 Exponent Rule #4
◼ When a product is raised to a power, each
piece is raised to the power

( ab) = a b m m m

◼ For example

(xy) = x y 2 2 2

( 2  5) = 2  5 = 4  25 = 100
2 2 2
 Exponent Rule #4
( ab) = a b
m m m

◼ Try it on your own

7 . ( hk ) = h k
3 3 3

8 . ( 2  3) = 2  3 = 4  9 = 36
2 2 2
 Note
◼ This rule is for products only. When using this
rule the exponent can not be brought in the
parenthesis if there is addition or subtraction

( x + 2) 2
 x +2 2 2

You would have to use FOIL in these cases

 Exponent Rule #5
◼ When a quotient is raised to a power, both the
numerator and denominator are raised to the
power m
a a m
  = m
b b
◼ For example
3
x x 3
  = 3
 
y y
 Exponent Rule #5
m
a
m
a
  = m
b b
◼ Try it on your own
2
h
2
h
9.   = 2
k k
2
4
2
4 16
10.   = 2 = =4
2 2 4
 Zero Exponent
◼ When anything, except 0, is raised to the zero
power it is 1.

a =10 ( if a ≠ 0)

◼ For example

x =10 ( if x ≠ 0)

25 = 1
0
 Zero Exponent

a =1
0 ( if a ≠ 0)

◼ Try it on your own

11 . h = 1 0 ( if h ≠ 0)

12 . 1000 = 1
0

13 . 0 =
0 undefined
 Negative Exponents
−n 1
=
◼ If b ≠ 0, then
b n
◼ For example b
−2 1
x = 2
x
−2 1 1
3 = 2
=
3 9
 Negative Exponents
−n 1
= n
◼ If b ≠ 0, then
b
◼ Try it on your own: b
−3 1
14 . h = 3
h
−3 1 1
15 . 2 = 3=
2 8
 Negative Exponents
◼ The negative exponent basically flips the part
with the negative exponent to the other half of
the fraction.

 1  b  2
 −2  =   = b 2
b   1 
 2   2x 2
 −2  =   = 2 x 2

x   1 
 Math Manners
◼ For a problem to be completely
simplified there should not be any
negative exponents
 Mixed Practice

4 . (2 lp )
5
6d 5
1. 9
3d
2 4
4 5 ( x y)
2. 2e 4e 5. 2
( xy)

3. (q )
3 5 2
4 5 (x x )
6. 9
x
 Mixed Practice
5
6d 5−9 2
1. 9 = 2 d −4
= 2d = 4
3d d
4+5
2 . 2 e 4 e = 8e
4 5
= 8e 9
 Mixed Practice

3. (q )
4 5
=q 45
=q 20

4 . (2 lp ) = 2 l p = 32l 5 p 5
5 5 5 5
 Mixed Practice
2 4 8 4
( x y) x y 8− 2 4− 2
5. 2
= 2 2
= x y =x y
6 2
( xy) x y
3 5 2 8 2 16
(x x ) (x ) x
6. 9
= 9
= 9
= x 16− 9
=x 7
x x x
 Mixed Practice
6 4 2 3 2 5 6
7. (m n ) (m n p )
= m n m n p
12 8 18 12 30

12 +18 8 +12 30
=m n p
=m n p
30 20 30
 Mixed Practice
( x − 2 y) 6
6−4
4 = (x − 2 y) = ( x − 2 y)
8. 2
( x − 2 y)
= ( x − 2 y )( x − 2 y )
F O I L
= x − 2xy − 2xy + 4 y
2 2

= x − 4 xy + 4 y
2 2
 Mixed Practice
6 5
a d 6− 4 5−9
9. 4 9 = a d = a 2 d − 4
a d
2
a
= 4
d