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 = xx xx
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.

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

22 2 2 2 2 8
2 1 2 1 2 3
 Exponent Rule #1
nm
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 42
2
x x 2
x
 Exponent Rule #2
n
b nm
m
b
b
Try it on your own:
6
h 62
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

22
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
5
6d 59 2
1. 9 2 d 4
2d 4
3d d
45
2 . 2 e 4 e 8e
4 5
8e 9
 Mixed Practice

3. q 4 5
q 45
q 20

4 . 2 lp 2 l p 32 l 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 1 6 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

1 2 1 8 8 1 2 3 0
m n p
m n p
30 20 30
 Mixed Practice
( x 2 y) 6
64
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 4xy 4 y
2 2
 Mixed Practice
6 5
a d 6 4 59
9. 4 9 a d a 2 d 4
a d
2
a
4
d