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College Algebra
Tutorial 2:
Integer Exponents

Learning Objectives

After completing this tutorial, you should be able to:

1. Use the definition of exponents.

2. Simplify exponential expressions involving multiplying like bases, zero

as an exponent, dividing like bases, negative exponents, raising a base to
two exponents, raising a product to an exponent and raising a quotient to
an exponent.

Introduction

This tutorial covers the basic definition and rules of exponents. The rules it
covers are the product rule, quotient rule, power rule, products to powers rule,
quotients to powers rule as well as the definitions for zero and negative
exponents. Exponents are everywhere in algebra and beyond. Let's see what we
can do with exponents.

Tutorial
 Definition of Exponents

(note there are n x's in the product)

x = base, n = exponent

Exponents are another way to write multiplication.

The exponent tells you how many times a base appears in a PRODUCT.

Example 1: Evaluate .

*Write the base -3 in a product 4

times
*Multiply

Example 2: Evaluate .

*Negate 3 to the fourth

*Put a - in front of 3 written in a product
4 times
*Multiply

Hey, this looks a lot like example 1!!!!

It may look alike, but they ARE NOT exactly the same. Can you
see the difference between the two?? Hopefully, you noticed that in
example 1, there was a ( ) around the - and the 3. In this problem,
 there is no ( ). This means the - is NOT part of the base, so it will
not get expanded like it did in example 1.

It is interpreted as finding the negative or opposite of 3 to the

fourth power.

Example 3: Evaluate .

*Write the base -1/5 in a product

3 times
*Multiply

Multiplying Like Bases With Exponents

(The Product Rule for Exponents)

Specific Illustration

Let’s first start by using the definition of exponents to help you to

understand how we get to the law for multiplying like bases with exponents:

Note that 2 + 3 = 5, which is the exponent we ended up with. We had 2 x’s

written in a product plus another 3 x’s written in the product for a total of 5 x’s
in the product. To indicate that we put the 5 in the exponent.

Let's put this idea together into a general rule:

Multiplying Like Bases With Exponents

 (Product Rule for Exponents)

in general,

In other words, when you multiply like bases you add your exponents.

The reason is, exponents count how many of your base you have in a
product. So if you are continuing that product, you are adding on to the
exponents.

Example 4: Use the product rule to simplify the expression .

*When mult. like bases you add your exponents

Example 5: Use the product rule to simplify the

expression .

*When mult. like bases you add your exponents

Zero as an exponent
Except for 0, any base raised to the 0 power simplifies to be the number 1.

Note that the exponent doesn’t become 1, but the whole expression simplifies to
be the number 1.

Example 6: Evaluate .

*Any expression raised to the 0 power simplifies to be 1

Example 7: Evaluate .

Be careful on this example. Order of operations says to evaluate

exponents before doing any multiplication. This means we need to find
x raised to the 0 power first and then multiply it by -15.

*x raised to the 0 power is 1

*Multiply

Dividing Like Bases With Exponents

(Quotient Rule for Exponents)

Specific Illustration

Let’s first start by using the definition of exponents to help you to

understand how we get to the law for dividing like bases with exponents:

Note how 5 - 2 = 3, the final answer’s exponent. When you multiply you are
adding on to your exponent, so it should stand to reason that when you divide
like bases you are taking away from your exponent.

Let's put this idea together into a general rule:

Dividing Like Bases With Exponents

(Quotient Rule for Exponents)

in general,

In other words, when you divide like bases you subtract their exponents.

Keep in mind that you always take the numerator’s exponent minus your
denominator’s exponent, NOT the other way around.

Example 8: Find the quotient .

*When div. like bases you subtract your exponents

 Example 9: Find the quotient .

*When div. like bases you subtract your exponents

Negative Exponents

or

Be careful with negative exponents. The temptation is to negate the base, which
would not be a correct thing to do. Since exponents are another way to
write multiplication and the negative is in the exponent, to write it
as a positive exponent we do the multiplicative inverse which is to
take the reciprocal of the base.

Example 10: Simplify .

*Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base

*Use def. of exponents to evaluate

Example 11: Simplify .

 *Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base

*Use def. of exponents to evaluate

Base Raised to Two Exponents

(Power Rule for Exponents)
Specific Illustration

Let’s first start by using the definition of exponents as well as the law for
multiplying like bases to help you to understand how we get to the law for
raising a base to two exponents:

Note how 2 times 3 is 6, which is the exponent of the final answer. We can
think of this as 3 groups of 2, which of course would come out to be 6.

Base Raised to two Exponents

(Power Rule for Exponents)
in general,

In other words, when you raise a base to two exponents, you multiply those
exponents together.

Again, you can think of it as n groups of m if it helps you to remember.

Example 12: Simplify .

 *When raising a base to two powers you mult. your
exponents

Example 13: Simplify .

*When raising a base to two powers you mult. your

exponents

*Use the definition of neg. exponents to rewrite as the

recip. of base

*Use the def. of exponents to evaluate

A Product Raised to an Exponent

(Products to Powers Rule for Exponents)
Specific Illustration

Let’s first start by using the definition of exponents to help you to understand
how we get to the law for raising a product to an exponent:

Note how both bases of your product ended up being raised by the exponent of
3.

A Product Raised to an Exponent

 (Products to Powers Rule for Exponents)
in general,

In other words, when you have a PRODUCT (not a sum or difference) raised
to an exponent, you can simplify by raising each base in the product to that
exponent.

Example 14: Simplify .

*When raising a product to an exponent, raise each base of

the product to that exponent

Example 15: Simplify .

*When raising a product to an exponent, raise each

base of the product to that exponent

*Mult. exponents when using power rule for

exponents

A Quotient Raised to an Exponent

(Quotients to Powers Rule for Exponents)
Specific Illustration

Let’s first start by using the definition of exponents to help you to understand
how we get to the law for raising a quotient to an exponent:
Since division is really multiplication of the reciprocal, it has the same basic
idea as when we raised a product to an exponent.

A Quotient Raised to an Exponent

(Quotients to Powers Rule for Exponents)
in general,

In other words, when you have a QUOTIENT (not a sum or difference)

raised to an exponent, you can simplify by raising each base in the
numerator and denominator of the quotient to that exponent.

Example 16: Simplify .

*When raising a quotient to an exponent, raise each base

of the quotient to that exponent

*Use def. of exponents to evaluate

Of course, we all know that life isn’t so cut and dry. A lot of times you need
to use more than one definition or law of exponents to get the job done.
What we did above was to set the foundation to make sure you have a good
understanding of the different ideas associated with exponents. Next we
will work through some problems which will intermix these different laws.

Simplifying an Exponential Expression

When simplifying an exponential expression, write it so that each base is

written one time with one POSITIVE exponent.

In other words, write it in the most condense form you can making sure that all
your exponents are positive.

A lot of times you have to use more than one rule to get the job done. As long
as you use the rule appropriately you should be fine.

Example 17: Simplify the exponential expression .

*When mult. like bases you add your exponents: 3 +

(-5) = -2

*When div. like bases you subtract your exponents:

-2 - (-20) = 18

Example 18: Simplify the exponential expression .

 *When raising a prod. to an exponent, raise each
base of the prod. to that exponent
*When you raise a base to two powers, you multiply
your exponents
*Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base
*Any base raised to the 0 power is 1

Example 19: Simplify the exponential expression .

*When raising a quotient to an exponent, raise each

base of the quotient to that exponent
*When you raise a base to two powers, you multiply
your exponents

*Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base

Be careful going into the last line. Since b doesn't have a negative
exponent, we DO NOT take the reciprocal of b. The other bases each
have a negative exponent, so those bases we have to take the reciprocal
of.

Practice Problems

These are practice problems to help bring you to the next level. It will allow
you to check and see if you have an understanding of these types of problems.
Math works just like anything else, if you want to get good at it, then you
need to practice it. Even the best athletes and musicians had help along the
way and lots of practice, practice, practice, to get good at their sport or
instrument. In fact there is no such thing as too much practice.
To get the most out of these, you should work the problem out on your own
and then check your answer by clicking on the link for the
answer/discussion for that problem. At the link you will find the answer as
well as any steps that went into finding that answer.

Practice Problems 1a - 1f:

Simplify the exponential expression.

1a. 1b.
(answer/discussion to 1a) (answer/discussion to 1b)

1c. 1d.
(answer/discussion to 1c) (answer/discussion to 1d)

1e. 1f.
(answer/discussion to 1e) (answer/discussion to 1f)

Need Extra Help on These Topics?

The following are webpages that can assist you in the topics that were
covered on this page:

http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/int_algebra/
int_alg_tut23_exppart1.htm
This website gives the definition of and some of the basic rules for exponents.

http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/logs/log2/log2.html#shortcuts
This webpage gives the definition of exponents.
http://www.wtamu.edu/academic/anns/mps/math/mathlab/int_algebra/
int_alg_tut24_exppart2.htm
This website helps you with some of the basic rules for exponents.

http://www.math.com/school/subject2/lessons/S2U2L2DP.html
This website gives an overview of various rules for exponents.

http://www.purplemath.com/modules/exponent.htm
This webpage gives an overall review of exponents.

http://www.studycoach.com/alg/classnotes/combining&simplifying/exp&rad
/
rulesofexponents.htm
This website helps you with some of the basic rules for exponents.

http://www.ltcconline.net/greenl/courses/152A/polyExp/intexp.htm
This webpage goes over the rules of exponents.

http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/logs/log3/log31/log31.html
This website helps you with the product rule for exponents.

http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/logs/log3/log32/log32.html
This website helps you with the quotient rule for exponents.

http://www.studycoach.com/alg/classnotes/combining&simplifying/exp&rad
/
radexpex1.htm
This website helps you with the quotient rule for exponents.

http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/logs/log3/log33/log33.html
This website helps you with the rule for raising a base to two exponents.

Go to Get Help Outside the Classroom found in Tutorial 1: How to Succeed

in a Math Class for some more suggestions.

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All contents copyright (C) 2002, WTAMU and Kim Peppard. All rights reserved.
Last revised on June 22, 2003 by Kim Peppard.