LAW

OF
EXPONENTS
 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.
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
Exponent Rule #1 MULTIPLICATION RULE
 When multiplying two expressions with the same base you add

nm
their exponents.

 For example
b b  b
n m
2 4
x x 
2 4
x  x 6

2 2  2 2  2
2 1 2 1 2
 2 8
3
Exponent Rule #1 MULTIPLICATION RULE
nm

b b  b
n m
Try it on your own:
3 7
1. h  h
3 7
 h h 10

2 1
2. 3  3  3 3
2 3

 3  3  3  27
Exponent Rule #2 DIVISION RULE
 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 DIVISION RULE
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  92

3
Exponent Rule #3 POWER RULE
 When raising a power to a power you
multiply the exponents
n m
(b )  bn m
 For example
2 4
(x )  x  x
2 4 8

(2 )  2  2  1 6
2 2 2 2 4
Exponent Rule #3 POWER RULE
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 #3 POWER RULE
 When a product is raised to a power, each
piece is raised to the power

(ab)  a b m m m

 For example

( x y)  x y2 2 2

(2  5)  2  5  4  2 5  1 0 0
2 2 2
Exponent Rule #3 POWER RULE

(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  3 6
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 #3 POWER RULE
 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 #3 POWER RULE
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  0 ( if a ≠ 0)

 For example

x  0 ( if x ≠ 0)

25 
0
 ZERO EXPONENT

a 
0 ( if a ≠ 0)

 Try it on your own

11. h  0 ( if h ≠ 0)

12. 1000 
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 59 2
1. 9  2 d  2d 4
 4
3d d
45
2. 2e 4e  8e
4 5
 8e 9
 Mixed Practice

3. q 4 5
q 4 5
q 20

4 .  2 lp   2 l p  3 2 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 169
6. 9
 9
 9
 x  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
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  4y
2 2

 x  4xy  4 y
2 2
 Mixed Practice
6 5
a d 64 59
9. 4 9  a d  a d
2 4
a d
2
a
 4
d