Exponents and Radicals

https://www.msubillings.edu/asc/m098/module_a/a_powerpoints/Section%2015.ppt
https://www.harris.k12.ga.us/cms/lib/GA02202829/Centricity/Domain/363/laws_of_exponents
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https://www.battlinminers.com/cms/lib/PA50000138/Centricity/Domain/1058/radicals.ppt
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
 OBJECTIVES:

1. Evaluate and simplify expressions with rational

exponents.
2. Perform the operations on exponential expressions.
3. Identify the index and radicand of a radical expression.
4. Transform an expression with a fractional exponent to
radical form and vice versa.
5. Simplify radical expressions.
6. Perform the fundamental operations on radicals.

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Exponential Expressions

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

 Exponents
exponent

Power {5 3

base

Example: 125 = 53 means that 53 is the exponential

form of the number 125.

53 means 3 factors of 5 or 5 x 5 x 5
Exponential form: The exponent of a power indicates
how many times the base multiplies itself.

n
x = 
x ⋅ x ⋅ x
⋅⋅⋅⋅ x ⋅ x ⋅ x
 ⋅x
n − times

n factors of x

3
Example: 5 = 5 ⋅ 5 ⋅ 5
Exponential Expressions

{2 5
Power Exponent

Exponential
Expression Base

Base: The number that is repeatedly multiplied.

Exponent: A symbol written to the upper right of a
base number that indicates how many times to use the
base as a factor.
Evaluate: Find the value.
5
2 = 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 ⋅ 2 = 32
Substitution and Evaluating
STEPS
1. Write out the original problem.
2. Show the substitution with parentheses.
3. Work out the problem.
Example : Solve if x = 4; x3
Solve if x = 4; x3

3
(4) = 64
 Evaluate the variable expression when x = 1, y = 2, and w = -3
y
2
( x) + ( y ) 2
( x + y) 2
wx
Step 1 Step 1 Step 1

2 2
( x) + ( y ) ( x + y) 2 y
wx
Step 2 Step 2 Step 2

(1) 2 + (2) 2 ((1) + (2) ) 2

(−3)(1) 2

Step 3
Step 3 Step 3
1+ 4 = 5
2
(3) = 9 (−3)(1) = −3
 Exponential Expressions
Base Exponent Evaluate
2 3 2 9
3
2 3 2 −9
Opposite of
−3
2
Parentheses are
important!! (− 3) −3 2 9
3 2 3 8
2
3 2 3 −8
−2
No difference
(− 2)3 −2 3 −8
Watch for negative numbers raised to an EVEN power!!!
 Simplifying
Exponential Expressions
(Operations on exponential expressions)

Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Order of Operations

PEMDAS

Also roots
Left to right!!!

Parentheses = Grouping Symbols Grouping Symbols???

2(− 3) No
( ) [ ]
2(3 + 4 ) Yes
5(3 + 4 ) = 5(3) + 4 =
5(7) = 15 + 4 =
35 19
 4
− 2 − 5(− 2) = 3 4⋅6 −7⋅5 =

− 16 − 5(− 8 ) = 24 − 35 =
− 16 − (− 40 ) = − 11
− 16 + 40 =
24
 3
12 − 64 ÷ 4 − 2(− 2) =
12 − 64 ÷ 4 − 2(− 8 ) =
12 − 16 − (− 16 ) =
12 − 16 + 16 =
12
 Simplify using order of operations.
( −6 ) − 18 ÷ ( 9 − 6 )
2

a) − 18

b) 6

c) 30

d) 36

1.5 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 15

 Simplify using order of operations.
( −6 ) − 18 ÷ ( 9 − 6 )
2

a) − 18

b) 6

c) 30

d) 36

1.5 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 16

 Simplify using order of operations.
2 ( 4 + 23 )
6 + 30 − ( 2 + 4 )
2

8
a) 300
250
b) 361
2
c)
11

d) undefined

1.5 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 17

 Simplify using order of operations.
2 ( 4 + 23 )
6 + 30 − ( 2 + 4 )
2

8
a) 300
250
b) 361
2
c)
11

d) undefined

1.5 Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 18

 Multiplication Division properties
Laws of Properties
Zero and negative
of exponents

Exponents
•Product of powers exponents •Quotient of powers
•Power to a power •Power of a quotient
•Power of a product
Multiplying Powers: If you are multiplying Powers with
the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!

m n m+n
x ⋅x =
x
So, I get it!
When you
multiply
Powers, you 2 6 × 23 = 2 6+3 = 29
add the = 512
exponents!
 MULTIPLICATION PROPERTIES
PRODUCT OF POWERS
This property is used to combine 2 or more exponential expressions with the SAME base.

3 5
2 ×2 (2 × 2 × 2)(2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2) 28 256

3
( x )( x )4 (( x)( x)( x) ) (( x)( x)( x)( x) ) x7
Power of a Power: If you are raising a Power to an
exponent, you multiply the exponents!

(x )m n mn
=x
So, when I
take a Power
to a power, I
multiply the 3
(5 ) = 52 3× 2
=5 5
exponents
 MULTIPLICATION PROPERTIES
POWER TO A POWER
This property is used to write and exponential expression as a single power of the base.

2 3
(5 ) (52 )(52 )(52 ) 56

(x 2 ) 4 ( x 2 )( x 2 )( x 2 )( x 2 ) x8
Product Law of Exponents: If the product of the bases
is powered by the same exponent, then the result is a
multiplication of individual factors of the product, each powered
by the given exponent.

( xy )=
n n n
x ⋅y
So, when I take
a Power of a
Product, I apply 2 2 2
the exponent to ( ab) = a b
all factors of
the product.
 MULTIPLICATION PROPERTIES
POWER OF PRODUCT
This property combines the first 2 multiplication properties to simplify exponential expressions.

(−6 × 5) 2 (−6) 2 × (52 ) 36 × 25 = 900

(5 xy ) 3 3 3
(5 )( x )( y ) 3 125 x 3 y 3

(4 x 2 )3 • x 5 (43 )( x 2 ) 3 • x 5 ( )
(64) ( x 2 )( x 2 )( x 2 ) • x 5

(64)( x 6 ) • x 5 64x11
 MULTIPLICATION PROPERTIES
SUMMARY
a b a +b
PRODUCT OF POWERS x •x = x
ADD THE EXPONENTS

POWER TO A POWER (x )a b
=x a •b

MULTIPLY THE EXPONENTS

a a a
POWER OF PRODUCT ( xy ) = x y
DISTRIBUTE THE EXPONENT
Negative Law of Exponents: If the base is powered
by the negative exponent, then the base becomes reciprocal with the
positive exponent.

−m 1
x = m
So, when I have a
Negative Exponent, I x
switch the base to its
reciprocal with a
Positive Exponent.
Ha Ha! 1
−3 1
5 = 3 =
If the base with the 5 125
negative exponent is in and
the denominator, it
moves to the 1 2
numerator to lose its −2
= 3 =9
3
negative sign!
Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by zero
exponent equals one.
0
x =1
So zero 50 = 1
factors of a
and
base equals 1.
That makes a0 = 1
sense! Every and
power has a (5a ) 0 = 1
coefficient
of 1.
 ZERO AND NEGATIVE EXPONENTS
ANYTHING TO THE ZERO POWER IS 1.

33 = 27 −2  1  2
32 = 9
2 x = 2 2  = 2
x  x
31 = 3
−2 1 1 1
30 = 1 (2 x) = 2
= 2 2 = 2
1 1 (2 x) 2 x 4x
3−1 =1
=
3 3
−2 1 1
3 = 2 =
3 9
−3 1 1
3 = 3=
3 27
Dividing Powers: When dividing Powers with the same base, KEEP the
BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!

m
x m n m−n
n
= x ÷ x = x
x
So, I get it!
6
When you 2 6− 2 4
divide 2
= 2 = 2
2
Powers, you
subtract the = 16
exponents!
 DIVISION PROPERTIES
QUOTIENT OF POWERS
This property is used when dividing two or more exponential expressions with the same base.

x 5 ( x)( x)( x)( x)( x) ( x)( x) 2

3
= = =x
x ( x)( x)( x) 1
Quotient Law of Exponents: If the quotient of the
bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is both
numerator and denominator , each powered by the given exponent.

n n
 x x
  = n
 y y
So, when I take a
Power of a
Quotient, I apply 4 4
the exponent to 2 2 16
all parts of the   = 4 =
quotient. 3 3 81
 DIVISION PROPERTIES
POWER OF A QUOTIENT
4
x 
2
( x 2 ) 4 x8
 3  = 3 4 = 12
y  (y ) y
Hard Example
3
 2 xy 
−2 −2 3
(2 xy ) 3 3 −6
2 x y 8 x 3 12
y
 3 − 4  = = 3 9 −12 = =
 3x y 
3 −4 3
(3 x y ) 3 x y 9 6
27 x y

8 x 3 y12 8 y6
9 6
=
27 x y 27 x 6
 ZERO, NEGATIVE, AND DIVISION PROPERTIES
0
Zero power ( x) = 1 Quotient of powers

Negative Exponents xa a −b
b
= x
−a 1 x
x = a
x
Power of a quotient
and
a
1 a x x a

−a
=x   = a
x  y y
Try this!
Direction: Simplify the following.
3 4
1. 2a ⋅ 7a =
3
9z
2. 3z =
5
3 2 2
3. 3x y z ⋅ 7 xyz =
4. (3x y ) (2 xy ) =
2 3 2 2 2

5.  3ab  =
3
 5a b 
3

2
 
Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 1- 35
 Radicals

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 Radical Expressions
Finding a root of a number is the inverse operation of raising
a number to a power.

radical sign
index
radicand
n
a

This symbol is the radical or the radical sign

 The expression under the radical sign is the

radicand.
 The index defines the root to be taken.
square root: one of two equal factors of a given number. The radicand is like the “area”
of a square and the simplified answer is the length of the side of the squares.
Principal square root: the positive square root of a number; the principal square root
of 9 is 3.
9 =3
negative square root: the negative square root of 9 is –3 and is shown like
− 9 = −3
radical: the symbol which is read “the square root of a” is called a radical.
radicand: the number or expression inside a radical symbol 3 3 is the radicand.
---
perfect square: a number that is the square of an integer. 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, etc… are
perfect squares.
 Square Roots

A square root of any positive number has two roots –

one is positive and the other is negative.
If a is a positive number, then
a is the positive (principal) square
root of a and
− a is the negative square root of a.
Examples:
100 = 10 −6
− 36 = 1= 1
25 5
− 0.81 = − 0.9 = −9 =non-real #
49 7
 What does the following symbol represent?

The symbol represents the positive or

principal root of a number.

What is the radicand of the expression 4 5xy ?

5xy
 What does the following symbol represent?

−
The symbol represents the negative root of
a number.

What is the index of the expression 3

5x 2 y5 ?
3
What numbers are perfect squares?

1•1=1
2•2=4
3•3=9
4 • 4 = 16
5 • 5 = 25
6 • 6 = 36
49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, ...
Transforming Exponential
Expressions to Radicals and
Vice-versa
 Exponents of the Form a1/n

a1/n
n
If a is a real number, then

n
a1/n = a .
 EXAMPLE Evaluating Exponentials of the Form a1/n
1
Evaluate each expression.

3
(a) 271/3 = 27 = 3

(b) 641/2 = 64 = 8

4
(c) –6251/4 = – 625 = –5

4
(d) (–625)1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.

Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

 Caution on Roots

CAUTION

Notice the difference between parts (c) and (d) in Example 1. The radical
in part (c) is the negative fourth root of a positive number, while the radical
in part (d) is the principal fourth root of a negative number, which is
not a real number.

EXAMPLE 1
4
(c) –6251/4 = – 625 = –5

4
(d) (–625)1/4 = –625 is not a real number because the radicand,
–625, is negative and the index is even.
Simplifying Radicals
Steps to Simplify Radicals:

1. Try to divide the radicand into a perfect square for

numbers
2. If there is an exponent make it even by using rules
of exponents
3. Separate the factors to its own square root
4. Simplify
Simplifying Radical Expressions
Product Property for Radicals
50
= 25 • 2 =5 2
A radical has been simplified when its radicand contains no
perfect square factors.
Test to see if it can be divided by 4, then 9, then 25, then 49,
etc.
Sometimes factoring the radicand using the “tree” is helpful.

14 7
x =x
 Perfect Square Factor * Other Factor

8 = 4*2 = 2 2
LEAVE IN RADICAL FORM

= 4*5 = 2 5
20

32 = 16 * 2 = 4 2

75 = 25 * 3 = 5 3

40 = 4 *10 = 2 10
 12
Simplify: x
(x ) 6 2

6
x
Square root of a variable to an
even power = the variable to
one-half the power.
 7
Simplify: 50 y
6
25 y • 2 y

3
5y 2y
 36
Simplify: 9x
a) 3x6
b) 3x18
c) 9x 6

d) 9x 18
 +
To combine radicals: combine
the coefficients of like radicals
Simplify each expression

6 7 +5 7 −3 7 = 8 7

5 6 +3 7 +4 7 −2 6 = 3 6 +7 7
Simplify each expression: Simplify each radical first and then combine.

2 50 − 3 32 = 2 25 * 2 − 3 16 * 2 =
2 *5 2 − 3* 4 2 =
10 2 − 12 2 =
−2 2
Simplify each expression: Simplify each radical first and then combine.

3 27 + 5 48 = 3 9 * 3 + 5 16 * 3 =
3*3 3 + 5* 4 3 =
9 3 + 20 3 =
29 3
 *
To multiply radicals: multiply the
coefficients and then multiply
the radicands and then simplify
the remaining radicals.
 Multiply and then simplify

5 * 35 = 175 = 25 * 7 = 5 7

2 8 * 3 7 = 6 56 = 6 4 *14 =
6 * 2 14 = 12 14

2 5 * 4 20 = 8 100 = 8 *10 = 80
To divide radicals:
divide the
coefficients, divide
the radicands if
possible, and
rationalize the
denominator so that
no radical remains in
the denominator
 This cannot be
divided which leaves 6 6 7
the radical in the = * =
denominator. We do 7 7 7
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
42 42
we need to =
rationalize by 49 7
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the 42 cannot be
denominator. simplified, so we are
finished.
 This can be divided 5 1 2
which leaves the = * =
radical in the 10 2 2
denominator. We do
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
we need to 2
rationalize by 2
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the
denominator.
 This cannot be 3 3 3
divided which leaves = * =
the radical in the 12 12 3
denominator. We do
not leave radicals in
the denominator. So
3 3
we need to =
rationalize by 36
multiplying the
fraction by something
so we can eliminate
the radical in the
3 3 3
denominator.
Reduce =
the 6 2
fraction.