Chapter-12: Exponents and Powers
Exercise 12.1 (Page 197 of NCERT Grade 8 )
Q1. Evaluate
−5
1
(i) 3−2
(ii) (−4) −2
(iii)
2
(i) Evaluate (3) −2
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Exponential form
What is unknown:
Value in the number
Reasoning
1
We know a − m = for any non-zero integer
am
Solution:
1 1
3−2 = =
32 9
Related Problems:
(−2) −4 & (4) −3
(ii) Evaluate (−4)−2
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Exponential form
What is unknown:
Value in the number
Reasoning:
1
We know a − m = for any non-zero integer
am
Solution:
1 1 1
(−4) −2 = = =
(−4) 2
(−4) (−4) 16
−5
1
(iii) Evaluate
2
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Exponential form
What is unknown:
Value in the number
Reasoning:
As per the fact used in previous question
Solution:
−5
1
= (2) = 2 2 2 2 2 = 32
5
2
Q2. Simplify and express the result in power notation with positive exponent.
2 4
1 5
(i) (−4) (−4)
5 8
(ii) 3 (iii) (−3)
4
2 3
(iv) (3−7 3−10 ) 3−5 (v) 2−3 (−7)−3
(i) Evaluate (−4)5 (−4)8
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Result in power notation with positive exponent
Reasoning:
am
As we know n
= a m − n where m & n are integers.
a
Solution:
(−4)5
(−4) (−4) =
5 8
= (−4)5−8
(−4) 8
3
1
(−4) =
−3
−4
2
1
(ii) Evaluate 3
2
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Result in power notation with positive exponent
Reasoning:
As we know for any non-zero integer a, (a m )n = a mn
Solution:
2
1 1
3 = 6
2 2
4
4 5
(iii) Evaluate (-3) ×
3
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Result in power notation with positive exponent
Reasoning:
we know that a m b m = (ab)m where a & b are non-zero integers and m is any integer
Solution:
4
5
(−3)
4
3
54
(−1 3) 4
4
3
54
(−1) 3 4
4 4
3
(−1) 4 54 = 54 [ (−1) 4 = 1]
(iv) Evaluate ( 3−7 3−10 ) 35
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Result in power notation with positive exponent
Reasoning:
am
We know n
= a m−n & a m a n = a m+n
a
Solution:
(3−7 3−10 ) 3−5 = (3−7 −( −10) ) 3−5
= (3−7 +10 ) 3−5
= 33 + (3−5 )
= 33+ ( −5)
= 3−2
1
= 2
3
(v) Evaluate 2-3×(-7)-3
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Result in power notation with positive exponent
Reasoning:
As we know a b = ( ab )
m m m
Solution:
2−3 (−7) −3 = [2 (−7)]−3
1
= [−14]−3 [a − m = ]
am
−1
3
=
14
Q3. Find the value of
(i) (30 + 4−1 ) 22
( ii ) (2−1 4−1 ) 2−2
−2 −2 −2
1 1 1
(iii) + +
2 3 4
(iv) (3−1 + 4−1 + 5−1 )0
2
−2
−2
(v)
3
(i) Evaluate (30 +4-1 )×22
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
1
a0 = 1 and a − m =
am
Solution:
1
(30 + 4−1 ) 22 = (1 + ) 22
4
4 +1 2
= 2
4
5
= 22
4
5
= 2 22 [4 = 2 2 = 22 ]
2
= 5
(ii) Evaluate (2−1 4−1 ) 2−2
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
(a )
m n
= a mn , a m a n = a m+n , a − m =
1
am
Solution:
( 2−1 4−1 ) 2−2 = 2−1 ( 2 )2 2−2
−1
= ( 2−1 2−2 ) 2−2 a m a n = a m+n
= 2−3 2−2
−3−( −2 )
=2 a m a n = a m-n
= 2−3+ 2
= 2−1
1 1
= a−m =
2 a m
-2 -2 -2
1 1 1
(iii) Evaluate + +
2 3 4
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
−m m
a b
=
b a
Solution:
-2 -2 -2 2 2 2
1 1 1 2 3 4
+ + = + +
2 3 4 1 1 1
= ( 2 ) + ( 3) + ( 4 )
2 2 2
= 4+9+16
= 29
Evaluate ( 3-1 +4-1 +5-1 )
0
(iv)
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
a 0 = 1 and a − m = 1
m
a
Solution:
0
1 1 1 −m 1
(3 −1
+4 +5−1 −1 0
) = + +
3 4 5 a = a m
=1 a 0 = 1
2
−2 −2
(v) Evaluate
3
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
m
−m 1 a am
a = m and = m
a b b
Solution:
2 2
−2 −2 3 2 −m 1
= a = a m
3 −2
2
32 a m a m
= 2 = m
( −2 ) b b
2
9
=
4
81
=
16
Q4. Evaluate
8−1 53
(i)
2−4
(ii) (5−1 2−1 ) 6−1
8-1×53
(i) Evaluate
2-4
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
1
a−m =
am
a m a n = a m−n
Solution:
8−1 53 24 53 −m 1
= a = a m
2−4 81
24 53
=
23
= 24−3 53 a m a n = a m-n
= 2 125
= 250
(ii) Evaluate (5−1 2−1 ) 6−1
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
a m b m = (ab)m
Solution:
(5−1 2−1 ) 6−1 = ( 5 2 ) 6 −1
−1
= 10−1 6−1
= (10 6) −1 a m b m = ( ab )m
= (60) −1
1
=
60
Related problems:
2−2 52
(i) (7 14 ) 3
−2 −2 −1
(ii)
8−3
Q5. Find the value of m for which (5m 5−3 ) = 55
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of m
Reasoning:
a m a n = a m−n
Solution:
(5m 5−3 ) = 55
5m −( −3) = 55
5m +3 = 55
On both the side powers have the same base, so their exponents must be equal.
m+3 = 5 → m = 5−3→ m = 2
Q6. Evaluate
−1
1 1
−1 −1
(i) −
3 4
−7 −4
5 8
(ii) −
8 5
-1
1 -1 1 -1
(i) Evaluate −
3 4
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
−m m
a b
=
b a
Solution:
−1
1 1
−1 −1
− = 3 − 4
1 1 −1
3 4
= {3 − 4}−1
= {−1}−1
1
1
=
−1
= −1
-7 -4
5 8
(ii) Evaluate
8 5
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
−m m
a b
=
b a
Solution:
−7 −4 7 −4
5 8 8 8
=
8 5 5 5
3
8
=
5
512
=
125
Q7. Simplify.
25 t −4
(i)
5−3 10 t −8
3−5 10−5 125
(ii)
5−7 6−5
25 t −4
(i) Evaluate
5−3 10 t −8
Difficulty Level: Medium
What is known:
Expression in exponential form
What is unknown:
Value of the expression
Reasoning:
am
a m × a n = a m+n and n
= a m-n
a
Solution:
25 t −4 52 t −4
= a m a n = a m + n
5−3 10 t −8 5−3 5 2 t −8
52 t −4
= −3+1
5 2 t −8
52 t −4
= −2
5 2 t −8
52−( −2) t −4−( −8) am m−n
= an = a
2
54 t −4+8
=
2
625t 4
=
2
3−5 10−5 125
(ii) Evaluate
5−7 6−5
Difficulty Level: Difficult
What is known: Expression in exponential form
What is unknown: Value of the expression
Reasoning:
am
n
= a m−n
a and a0 = 1
Solution:
3−5 10−5 125 3 ( 2 5 ) 5
−5 3 −5
=
5−7 6−5 5−7 (2 3) −5
3−5 2−5 5−5 53
=
5−7 2−5 3−5
= 3−5−( −5) 2−5−( −5) 5−5−( −7) +3
= 30 20 55 a 0 = 1
= 1 1 55 = 55
Chapter-12: Exponents and Powers
Exercise 12.2 (Page 53 of NCERT Grade 8)
Q1. Express the following numbers in standard form.
(i) 0.0000000000085
(ii) 0.00000000000942
(iii) 6020000000000000
(iv) 0.00000000837
(v) 31860000000
(i) 0.0000000000085
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
How to use – a.b 10n
Where a is a whole number, b is a decimal number and n is an integer. Small numbers are
expressed with negative exponent i.e. n is negative integer.
Solution:
To convert this small number into standard from we need to move decimal to its right by
12 steps.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5
85
0.0000000000085 =
10000000000000
85 8.5 10
= =
10000000000000 1013
= 8.5 10−13 101
= 8.5 10−12
Standard form of given number is 8.5 10−12
(ii) 0.00000000000942
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
How to use – a.b 10n
Where a is a whole number, b is a decimal number and n is an integer. Small numbers are
expressed with negative exponent i.e. n is negative integer.
Solution:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 2
942
0.00000000000942 =
100000000000000
942 9.42 102
= =
100000000000000 1014
= 9.42 10−14 102
= 9.42 10−12
Standard form of given number is 9.42 10−12
(iii) 6020000000000000
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
In this question a big number has to be converted to its standard form. In this case n is
positive to represent this number as a b 10n and the decimal will be moved to its left to
represent this number in its standard form as below.
Solution:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
6 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6020000000000000 = 6.02 1015
Decimal has moved by 15 steps so standard form of given number is 6.2 1015
(iv) 0.00000000837
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
How to use – a.b 10n
Where a is a whole number, b is a decimal number and n is an integer. Small numbers are
expressed with negative exponent i.e. n is negative integer.
Solution:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 3 7
837
0.00000000837 =
100000000000
837 8.37 102
=
100000000000 1011
= 8.37 10−11 102
= 8.37 10−9
Standard form of given number is 8.37 10−9
(v) 31860000000
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
In this question a big number has to be converted to its standard form. In this case n is
positive to represent this number as a b 10n and the decimal will be moved to its left to
represent this number in its standard form as below.
Solution:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
3 1 8 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
31860000000 = 3.186 1010
So, decimal has moved by 10 steps to its left
Standard form of given number is 3.186 1010
Q2. Express the following numbers in usual form.
(i ) 3.02 × 10 –6
( ii ) 4.5 × 104
( iii ) 3 × 10−8
( iv ) 1.0001 × 109
(v) 5.8 × 1012
(vi) 3.61492 × 106
(i) Evaluate 3.02 10−6
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Standard form
What is unknown:
Usual form
Reasoning:
As we know standard form of any small or larger number is a.b 10n ,Where a is a whole
number, b is a decimal number and n is an integer
For small number n is negative and for large number n is positive. So, to convert a small
number to its usual form we need to move decimal to its left by number of steps given as
exponent values.
Solution:
(i) 3.02 10−6
Its usual form is
3.02
3.02 10−6 =
1000000
= 0.00000302
(ii) 4.5 104
Now to convert a big number to its usual form we need to move decimal to its right by
number of steps given as its exponent.
4.5 104 = 45000
Answer is 45000
(iii) 3 10−8 = 0.00000003
(iv) 1.0001109 = 1000100000
(v) 5.8 1012 = 5800000000000
(vi) 3.61492 106 = 3614920
Q3. Express the number appearing in the following statements in standard form.
1
(i) 1 micron is equal to m
100000
(ii) Charge of an electron is 0.000,000,000,000,000,000,16 coulomb.
(iii) Size of a bacteria is 0.0000005 m
(iv) Size of a plant cell is 0.00001275 m
(v) Thickness of a thick paper is 0.07 mm
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
Usual form
What is unknown:
Standard form
Reasoning:
How to use – a.b 10n
Where a is a whole number, b is a decimal number and n is an integer. Small numbers are
expressed with negative exponent i.e. n is negative integer.
Solution:
(i) 1 micron is equal to
1
1000000 m
1
= 0.000001 = 1 10−6
1000000
(ii) 0.00000000000000000016
16
0.00000000000000000016 =
100000000000000000000
1.6 10
=
1020
= 1.6 10−19 coulomb
(iii) 0.0000005m
5
0.0000005 m=
10000000
5
= 7
10
= 5 10−7 m
(iv)
1275
0.00001275m =
100000000
1.275 103
=
108
= 1.275 10−5 m
(v) 0.07mm
7
0.07mm =
100
7
= 2
10
7 10−2 mm
Q4. In a stack there are 5 books each of thickness 20mm and 5 paper sheets each of
thickness 0.016 mm. What is the total thickness of the stack?
Difficulty Level: Easy
What is known:
5 books of 20mm thickness each.
5 paper sheets of 0.016mm thickness each.
What is unknown:
Total thickness of the stack
Reasoning:
First find the total thickness of 5 books then find out total thickness of 5 paper sheets.
Now find total thickness of stack by adding these two.
Solution:
Thickness of each book = 20mm
Number of books per stack = 5
Thickness of 5 books = 5 20 = 10 mm
Thickness of each sheet = 0.016 mm
Thickness of 5 paper sheets = 5 0.016 = 0.080 mm
Total thickness of stack = 100 + 0.080 = 100.080mm
= 100.080 = 1.0008 102 mm
