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CHAPTER

4 EXPONENTS

Animation 4.1: Exponents

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Student Learning Outcomes Similarly,

• 11×11 can be written as 112. We read it as 11 to the power of 2
After studying this unit, students will be able to: where 11 is the base and 2 is the exponent.
• Identify base, exponent and value. From the above examples we can conclude that if a number “a” is
• Use rational numbers to deduce laws of exponents. multiplied with itself n –1 times, then the product will be an, i.e.
• Product Law: an = a x a x a x ...................x a (n-1 times multiplications of “a” with
when bases are same but exponents are different: itself)
am x an = am+n We read it as “a to the power of n”or “nth power of a”where “a” is the

when bases are different but exponents are same: base and “n” is the exponent.
an x bn = (ab)n Example 1: Express each of the following in exponential form.
• Quotient Law: (i) (-3)x(-3)x(-3) (ii) 2x2x2x2x2x2x2
when bases are same but exponents are different:
1 1 1 1  -7   -7 
(iii)  × × ×  (iv)  × 
when bases are different but exponents are same: 4 4 4 4  12   12 
Solution:
(i) (-3)x(-3)x(-3)=(-3)3 (ii) 2x2x2x2x2x2x2=(2)7
• Power Law: (am)n = amn
4 2
For zero exponent: a0 = 1 1 1 1 1 1  -7   -7   -7 
For exponent as negative integer: (iii)  × × ×  =
  (iv)  ×  =  
4 4 4 4 4  12   12   12 
• Demonstrate the concept of power of integer that is (–a)n when n Example 2: Identify the base and exponent of each number.
n t
is even or odd integer. 9
 -7  a  x
• Apply laws of exponents to evaluate expressions. (i) 1325 (ii)   (iii) am (iv) (- 426)11 (v)   (vi)  - 
 11  b  y
Solution: 9
4.1 Exponents/Indices  7
(i) 13 (ii)  -  (iii) a
25 m

 11 
base = 13 base = a
4.1.1 Identification of Base, Exponent and Value -7
exponent = 25 base = exponent = m
11
We have studied in our previous class that the repeated exponent = 9
multiplication of a number can be written in short form, using n t
a  -x 
exponent. For example, (iv) (-426)11 (v)   (vi)  
b  y 
• 7 × 7 × 7 can be written as 73. base = - 426
The exponent of a number indicates a -x
We read it as 7 to the power exponent = 11 base = base =
us, how many times a number (base) b y
of 3 where 7 is the base and exponent = n exponent = t
is multiplied with itself.
3 is the exponent or index.
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Example 3: Write the following in the simplest form. 3. Prove that:

2 4 (i) (5)3 = 125 (ii) (-1)11 = -1 (iii) (-3)5 = -243
2  -1 
(i) (-5)3 (ii)   (iii)  
3  4  2 3 6
3 9  1 1  -2  64
Solution: (iv)   = (v) -
  =
- (vi)   =
2
2 2 2 7 49  8 512  3  729
(i) (-5)3 = (-5) x (-5) x (-5) (ii)  = × 4 3 4
= (+25) x (-5)
3
  3 3 1 1  4  -64 2 16
(vii)   = (viii)  -  = (xi)   =
= -125 2× 2 4  10  10000  3 27  5  625
= =
Thus, (-5)3 = -125 3× 3 9 4. Express each rational number using an exponent.
2
2 4 (i) 121 (ii) 81 (iii) -625
Thus,   =
3 9
1 8 1
4
 -1   1   1   1   1  (iv) (v) (vi) -
 = - ×- ×- ×- 
(iii)  1000 343 32
   4  4  4  4
4
-1 × -1 × -1 × -1 1
= = 4.2 Laws of Exponents/Indices
4× 4× 4× 4 256
4
 -1  1 Exponents are used in solving many problems, so it is important
Thus,   =
 4  256 that we understand the laws for working with exponents. Let us
discuss these laws one by one, and see some examples.
EXERCISE 4.1
4.2.1 Using Rational Numbers to Deduce Laws of
1. Identify the exponent and base in each of the following. Exponents
(i) (-1)9 (ii) 2100 (iii) (-19)22 (iv) 3-5
7
 -6 
8
2 • Product Law
(v) (ab)n (vi)   (vii) a-mn (viii)  
 11  9 • When bases are same but exponents are different
b Consider the following examples
 p
4
 1
6
x
m
 11  23 x 22 = (2 x 2 x 2) x (2 x 2)
(ix)  q  -  (x) (xi)  y  (xii)  
   x    13  = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2
2. Express each of the following in exponential form. = 25
From the above, we can notice that the same result can be obtained
-3 -3 -3 -3
(i) 5 x 5 x 5 x 5 (ii) × × × by adding the exponents of two numbers.
7 7 7 7 23 x 22 = 23+2 = 25
1 1 1 Similarly,
(iii) p x p x p x p x p (iv) × ×
10 10 10 2 2
(v) xy x xy x xy (vi) 31 x 31 x 31 x 31 x 31  -3   -3   -3   -3   -3   -3   -3   -3   -3 
  ×  =  × × × × × × 
(vii) (-a) x (-a) x (-a) x (-a) x (-a) x (-a) x (-a)  4   4   4   4   4   4   4   4   4 
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Solution:
7 (i) 53 x 54
 -3 
=  = 53+4 = 57 [a am x an = am+n]

 4 
(ii) (-3)3 x (-2)3
Again use the short method to find the result.
= [(-3) x (-2)]3 = [6]3 [a an x bn = (ab)n]
2 5 2+5 7
 -3   -3   -3   -3  2 2
  ×  =   =    -1   2 
 4   4   4   4  (iii)   × 
From the above examples, we can deduce the following law:  4  3
2
“While multiplying two rational numbers with the same base, we  -1   2  
=   ×    [  a n × bn =
(ab) n ]
add their exponents but the base remains unchanged, i.e. for any
 4   3  
number “a” with exponents m and n, this law is written as, 2 2
 -1 × 2   -1 
am x an = am+n = =
• When bases are different but exponents are same  4 × 3   6 
3 4
We know that  -3   -3 
(iv)   ×  [ am × an =
a m+ n ]
23 x 53 =(2 x 2 x 2) x (5 x 5 x 5)  2   2 
= (2x5) x (2x5) x (2x5) 3+ 4 7
 -3   -3 
= (2x5)3 =
=   
Similarly,  2   2 

3 3
EXERCISE 4.2
 -1   3   -1   -1   -1    3   3   3  
  ×   =   ×   ×    ×   ×   ×    1. Simplify the using the laws of exponent into the exponential
 4   4   4   4   4    4   4   4   form.
3
 1 3  1 3  1 3  1 3
= - ×  ×  - ×  ×  - ×  = - ×  3 2
 4 4  4 4  4 4  4 4 2 2
(i) (-4)5 x (-4)6 (ii) m3 x m4 (iii)   × 
From the above examples, we can deduce the following law: 7 7
“While multiplying two rational numbers having the same exponent, 4 5 3 3
1 1 2 5
the product of the two bases is written with the given exponent.” (iv)   ×  (v) p10 x q10 (vi)   × 
 10   10  5 7
Suppose two rational numbers are “a” and “b” with exponent “n” 6 5 10 7
then,  -1   -1  2 2
(vii)   ×  (viii) (-3)7 x (-5)7 (ix)   ×  
an x bn = (ab)n    2 
2 3 3
Example: Simplify the following expressions. 7
 -10   -10 
6 8
 11   21 
8

(i) 53 x 54 (ii) (-3)3 x (-2)3 (x)   ×  (xi)   × 

 11   11   7   22 
2 2 3 4 11
 -1   2   -3   -3   -x   -x 
(iii)   ×  (iv)   ×  (xii)  × 
 4  3    2 
2    y 
y
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2. Verify the following by using the laws of exponent.

(i) (3 x 5)4 = 34 x 54 (ii) (7 x 9)8 = 78 x 98 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 24
= = = 24 ÷ 34
(iii) (2)6 x (2)3 = 29 (iv) (x x y)m = xm ym 3× 3× 3× 3 3 4

(iv) (8)5 x (8)7 = (8)12 (v) (p)r x (p)s = pr+s

Similarly,
• Quotient Law
5
• When bases are same but exponents are different x x x x x x
Consider the following.   =  × × × × 
 y   y   y   y   y   y 
27 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 x × x × x × x × x x5
= = = = x 5
÷ y 5
23 2× 2× 2 5
y × y × y × y × y y
= 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 24 Thus, this law can be written as:
Let us find the same quotient by another way. For any two rational numbers “a ” and “b”, where b ≠ 0 and “n” is their
exponent, then,
27 7 -3 a
n
= 2= 24 n
a ÷b = n
2 3
 
Similarly,
b
Example: Simplify.
 -2   -2   -2   -2   -2 
5 2  × × × × 
 -2   -2   3   3   3   3   3  7 4 9 2
  ÷  =  3  3 3 3
 3   3   -2   -2  (i) 9 '3
8 8
(ii)  -  ÷  -  (iii)   ÷  
 ×   11   11  7 7
 3   3 
3 (iv) (14)11 ' (63)11
 -2   -2   -2   -2  Solution:
=  × ×  =  
 3   3   3   3  7 4
According to the short method that we used for finding the quotient:  3  3
(i) 98 ' 38 (ii) -  ÷- 
5 2 5- 2 3  11   11 
 2  2  2  2
-  ÷-  = -  = - 
9
8
a
n
 -3 
7-4
 3
3
 3  3  3  3 =  = 38 m n m- n
  a ÷ a =a
n n
 a ÷ b=   =  =-

Thus, from the above examples we can suggest another law; 3 b  11   11 
“The division of two rational numbers with the same base can be 9- 2 2
3 3
performed by subtracting their exponents”. Suppose ‘a’ is the base (iii)   ÷  (iv) (14)11 ' (63)11
7 7
of any two rational numbers with exponents ‘m’ and ‘n’ such that
9- 2 7 11 11 n
a ≠ 0 and m > n, then, 3 3  14  2 a
=  =    a m ÷ =
a n a m- n=  =     a n ÷=
bn  
am ' an = am-n 7 7  63  9 b
• When bases are different but exponents are same
4
We know that: 2 2 2 2 2
  =  × × × 
3 3 3 3 3
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EXERCISE 4.3 32 3 × 3
1. Simplify = = 1
32 3 × 3
(i) 27 ' 22 (ii) (-9)11 ' (-9)8 (iii) (3)4 ' (5)4 This can also be written as 32-2 = 30 = 1
(iv) (m)3 ' (n)3 (v) (a)7 ' (a)2 (vi) (b)p ' (b)q Similarly,
( - 2) 4 ( - 2) × ( - 2) × ( - 2) × ( - 2)
= = 1
7 2 15 11 ( - 2) 4 ( - 2) × ( - 2) × ( - 2) × ( - 2)
3 3 1 1
(vii)   ÷   (viii)   ÷   (ix) (2)5 ' (3)5 This can also be written as (-2)4-4 = (-2)0 = 1.
4 4 6 6
Thus, we can define this law as:
17 8 23
 -3   -3   p  p Any non-zero rational number with zero exponent is equal to 1.
(x)   ÷   (xi) (x)a ' (y)a (xii)   ÷  
Suppose “a” be any non-zero rational number with exponent “0”,
 10   10  q q
2. Prove that then a0 = 1
• Negative Exponents
2
4
 -4 
3 Look at the pattern given below.
4 4 3 3
(i) 2 ÷7 =
  (ii) ( - 4) ÷ (5) =
  (iii) 38 ' 3 = 37 102 = 10 x 10
7  5 
6 7 3 4
101 = 10
6a 6  -21   -21   -21  100 = 1
(iv) a ÷b =
  (v)   ÷  =
 
b  22   22   22  1
10-1 =
5 4 10
 -9   -9   -9 
(vi)   ÷  =   1 1
10-2 = × =
1 1
= 2
 13   13   13 
10 10 10 × 10 10
• Power Law ...................................................
...................................................
We have studied that am × an = am+n. Let us use this law to simplify ...................................................
an expression (3 ) . 4 2

-m 1 1
(3 2
)
4 2
= 34
x 34
=10 =
 -1 7   -1 7 = -314+47= 38 is the same as 34x2
10 × 10 × ⋅⋅⋅× 10(m times) 10m
 =   expression  ×  using  1
We solve   2 another
   2   2  the same law. In general, it can be written as; a - m =
 
7+7 14 7×2 am
 -1   -1   -1 
= =    is also the same as   We can also deduce this law from am x an = am+n. Suppose n = -m,
 2   2   2  then we will get,
Thus, from the above examples, we can deduce that the base a m × a - m =a m-m ⇒ a m × a - m =a 0 ⇒ a m × a - m =1  a 0 =1
remains the same with a new exponent equal to the product of the Divided by am on both sides.
two exponents, that is: (am)n = amxn = amn am × a-m 1 -m 1
= ⇒ a =
• Zero Exponent am am am
By the quotient law, we know that anything divided by itself is 1 Thus, we have another law:
as shown below.
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Any non-zero number raised to any negative power is equal to its (ii)  -2  -4 (iii)  a  -6
reciprocal raised to the opposite positive power. i.e.    
 5   -b 
1
a-m = 1 1 1 1
am = = 4
 a -m
= =  a -m

 -2  am  a 
6
am
   
p  5   -b 
If is a non-zero rational number, then according to the above 4 4 6
q 1 54  5   -5  1 ( - b)6  -b 
 p
-m
1 1 pm  p 
m
= = = =  or   = =  
given law, we have:  = = = =
4 4
( - 2) ( - 2)  -2   2  a6 a6  a 
q  p
m
pm q m  q  ( - b) 6
54
q q m
   -2 
-4
 -5 
4
 a   -b 
-6 6

-m m Thus,   =   Thus,   =  
p
Thus,    p  5   2   -b   a 
q = 
  q
4.2.2 Demonstration of the concept of Power of an
Example 1: Express the following as a single exponent.
Integer
2 6
 -2 3   1 5  We know that when we multiply a negative number by itself, it
(i) (34)5 (ii)    (iii)   
Solution:  3    7   gives a positive result because minus time minus is plus. For example,
2 6 (-3) x (-3) = (-3)2 = +9 (-5) x (-5) = (-5)2 = +25
 -2 3   1 5 
(i) (34)5 a(am)n = amn (ii)     (a ) = a (iii)     (a m ) n = a mn
m n mn
But do you know it happens to all even exponents that can be seen
 3    7  
in the pattern given below.
= 34x5  -2  1
 -2  1
3×2 6 5×6 30

= = = =
     
= 320  3   3 
7 7 (-2)2 = (-2) x (-2) = +4 .................................................................... (even)
Example 2: Change the following negative exponents into (-2)3 = (-2) x (-2) x (-2) = -8 .............................................................. (odd)
positive exponents. (-2)4 = (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) = +16 ................................................ (even)
-3 -4 -6
(-2)5 = (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) = -32 ........................................ (odd)
(i) 3 (ii)  -2  (iii)  a  (-2)6 = (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) x (-2) = +64 ............................. (even)
     
4  5   -b 
-3
Solution: (i) 3 From the above it can also be noticed that a negative number with
 
4 an odd exponent gives a negative result. So, we can explain it as:
1 1
== 3
 a-m
3 am Let “a” be any positive rational number and “n” be any non-zero
 

4
3 -3 3
integer, than according to this law:
1 43  4  3 4
= = = =  Thus,    
33 3 33  3  4 3
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• If “n” is an even integer, then (–a)n is positive. EXERCISE 4.4

• If “n” is an odd integer, then (–a)n is negative.
1. Express the following as single exponents.
4.2.3 Applying Laws of Exponent to Evaluate (i) (23)5 (ii) (102)2 (iii) (-34)5
Expressions (iv) (p2)3 (v) (-m7)4 (vi) (x a)b

Example 3: Simplify and express the result in the simple form. 3 6 n

 -1 3   2 3   p  m 
(vii)    (viii)    (ix)   
2
-3 3
 2 3 3
5 -5  3    9    q  
(i) (47 ' 45) x 22 (ii)   ×   ×   ×   2. Change the following negative exponents into positive
5 5 5 5
-1 exponents.
5
 -2   -2   -2  2 
-2
(i) (12)-3 (ii) (-a)-2 (iii) (100)-5
(iii)   ×   ×   
 7   7   7  
-4 -9 -b
Solution: 2  -1  x
(iv)   (v)   (vi)  y
3  10   
-1
 -2  
5
-2   -2  2 
-2
3. Evaluate the following expressions.
(i) (47 ' 45) x 22 (iii)   ×   ×   
 7   7   7   (i) (12)3 x (23)2 (ii) [(-3)7]0 x [(-3)2]2
= 47-5 x 22 5+ (2) 2×(-1) 3 2
= 42 x 22 aam ' an ==
am-n  -2   -2   am × an = a m+ n  -3 0   -3  2 
  ×   23 
= (4 x 2) 2
aa x b = (ab)
n n n  7   7  (a m ) n = a mn (iii)    ×    (iv)  6 
 4    4    2 ÷ 23 
= 82 = 64 3 -2
 -2   -2 
-3 3 = 5
-5   × 
2  2 3 3  7   7  -3 -6 5 -5
(ii)   ×   ×   ×   1 1  -2   -2 
5 5 5 5 3+ (- 2)   ×    × 
 -2  (v)
2 2 (vi)
 9   9 
2
-3+3
3
5+(-5) =    a m × a n a m+ n
= -5 4 -4
+   a × an =
m
a m+ n  7  1 3 3
 
5 5     × 
3- 2 2 2 2
 -2  -2
 2 3
0 0
= =  1
-3
1
-5
2
-5
2
4

  +   7  7       × 
5 5 3
(vii)
 
-4
-  3 -6 (viii)
3
-4
3
-4
 a0 1
1+1 2 =
= 1 1 2 2
      × 

3 3 3 3
3 0 -3 -2 -3 -4
2 2 2  -1  1 1
(ix)   ×   ×   (x)   +  + 
3 3 3  2  3 4

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Review Exercise 4 5. Use the laws of exponents to find the value of x.

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1. Answer the following questions.  3  2  3x
(i) What is meant by the exponent of a number? (i) [(-7)3]6 = 7x (ii)    = x
 4   4
(ii) What is the product law with the same base?
(iii) Define the power law of exponent.  13  4  13x
5
5 5
11
5
8x

(iii)    4 = x (iv)   ×  =
 
 8   8 3 3 3
p 2 9 2 x-1
(iv) What is the reciprocal of ? 2 2 2
q (v)   ÷  =
 
9 9 9
2. Fill in the blanks.
6. Simplify and write the answer in simple form.
(i) 5×5×5×5 can be written in exponential form as _________.
(ii) an x bn = __________ . 2
 -3  2  -3 3   -3  2 
(iii) an ' bn = ___________. (i)   ×    ÷   
(iv) Any non-zero rational number with __________ exponent  4   4    4  
3 4
equals to 1.  5   5    5  
10 2 4
(ii)   ×    ÷   
(v) (-a)n is positive, if ‘n’ is an _______ integer.  19   19    19  
(vi) _________ is read as ‘nth power of a’. 5 2
 18 3  18  2   18  2 
(iii)   ÷    ÷   
 11   11    11  
3. Tick (p) the correct answer. 8 5
 -4  2   -4 3   -4 
(iv)    ÷    ×  
 9    9    9 
2 3
 1 3   1 6   1  25
(v)    ×    ÷  
 10    10    10 

Summary
4. Find the value of:
• The exponent of a number indicates us how many times a number
(base) is multiplied with itself.
(i) (4)-3 (ii) (-5)4 (iii) (2)-9
• While multiplying two rational numbers with the same base,
-5 3 2 we add their exponents but the base remains unchanged. i.e.
 -1   3  11 
(iv)   (v)   (vi) -  am × an = a m+n
 3   10   13  • While multiplying two rational numbers having same exponent,
the product of two bases is written with the given exponent. i.e.
an × bn = (ab)n

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4. Exponents eLearn.Punjab

• The division of two rational numbers with the same base can be
performed by subtracting their exponents. i.e. am'an = am–n
• To raise a power to another power, we just write the product of
two exponents with the same base. i.e. (am)n = amn
• Any non-zero rational number with zero exponent equals to 1,
i.e. a0 = 1
• Any non-zero rational number with a negative exponent equals to

-m 1
its reciprocal with the same but positive exponent. i.e. a =
am
• (-a)n is positive, if n is an even integer and (-a)n is negative, if n is
an odd integer.

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