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.      B. 4   
 C. /4     
 
    E. 3  /2    /6 
   
D. $  %  $  %   ,
0 - 1 1 2 ) 3 
    ) *
F.
2 -) 3 -4 0 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:
A. /3  /3/3  9 B. /3  /9
 EXPONENTS PRACTICE
Simplify:

1. 3 · 4 15.
,
27.
 -4
   -*
 
2. 4 · 2   ,

16. 28.
3.   ·    )
 -7

4. 2  · 2   
 29. :  : :  
17. $ %

 )  -)
 30.
5.   ->
   
18. $ %  ,
)  
31.
6.
 -*
7 19.  +
   -
7. 8  32.
 ,  
20. 7

8. /9
33. 2    
21.  -
9.     )  -)

34.
22. -)  7  
10.  
 7 23.   ·  
35. 4    
11.  )
24.   36. 5 2    
  
12.   +0 1 2 @
25.  < ·  + 37. $ 0 1)2  %
13. 289   89 26. = 
 =  =   
 0 1 2 @
14. 2:;  :; 38. $ 0 12 7 %

EXPONENTS PRACTICE ANSWERS

1. 192 16.  29. B)

2. 8   4
17.
 > 30.  

3. 
* 31. 2

18.
4. 4   4,

32.  )  ,
5. 36 19.  7
,


33.  ,
6. 20. <


7. 1 21.  
34.    7

8. /1 22. 16  4
35.
 4
9. 
23.  

 ,

10.  

36.

24.  ,
11. 3  37.

0) 1 ) 2 4
25.  

12. 2 
<1  2 4)
+
 26. A 38.
13. 48 9 0

14. 16:
 ; 27.  +

15.     28. 4