Exponents & Radicals

1
Given the expression x n , x is called the base and n is called the exponent or power. Here are the laws of
exponents you should know:

Law Example

x1 = x 31 = 3

x0 = 1 30 = 1

x m · x n = x m+n 34 · 35 = 39

xm 37
= x m−n = 34
xn 3 3

! "n ! 2 "4
xm = x mn 3 = 38

(xy)m = x m ym (2 · 3)3 = 23 · 33

Å ãm Å ã3
x xm 2 23
= m = 3
y y 3 3

1 1
x– m = 3– 4 =
xm 34

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1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS THE COLLEGE PANDA

The difference between

(−3)2 and − 32
comes down to order of operations (PEMDAS), which dictates that parentheses are prioritized first. So,

(−3)2 = (−3) · (−3) = 9

Without parentheses, exponents take priority:

− 32 = − 3 · 3 = − 9

Notice that the negative is not applied until the exponent operation is carried through.
Sometimes, the result turns out to be the same, as in:

(−2)3 and −23

Both yield −8.

EXAMPLE 1: Which of the following is equivalent to − x2 (− x)5 ?

A) − x10 B) − x7 C) x7 D) x10

The − x2 term cannot be simplified any further because the negative is not inside any parentheses. The (− x)5
term has an odd exponent. An odd exponent yields an odd number of negative signs, which in turn yields a
negative result. So, (− x)5 simplifies to − x5 . The entire expression then boils down to

− x2 (− x)5 = − x2 · − x5 = x2+5 = x7

Answer (C) .

EXAMPLE 2: Which expression is equivalent to 4x+1 · 32x , where x > 0 ?

A) 4(12)x B) 4(24)x C) 4(36)x D) 8(12)x

We can use our laws of exponents to simplify the expression. First, the law x m+n = x m · x n allows us to
! "n ! "x
simplify 4x+1 to 4x · 41 . Then the law x mn = x m allows us to turn 32x into 32 = 9x . After applying these
laws, we get
4x+1 · 32x = 4x · 41 · 9x = 4 · (4x · 9x ) = 4(36)x

Answer (C) . In the last step, we used the law x m ym = (xy)m to get 4x · 9x = 36x .

√
Roots are the opposites of exponents. Whereas 52 will give you 25, the square root of 25, denoted by 25, will
#
3
give you back the 5. Similarly, taking the cube root of 63 gives 63 = 6 and taking the fourth root of b4 gives
#
4
b4 = b. Notice how the operations cancel each other out.

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THE COLLEGE PANDA 1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS

√
Instead of using the radical sign, n , we can also denote the nth-root using the equivalent fractional
1
exponent . For example,
n
√ 1
x = x2
√ 1
3
x = x3
2
What about x 3 ? The 2 on top means to square x. The 3 on the bottom means to cube root it:
#
3
x2

We can see this more clearly if we break it down using our laws of exponents:

2 Ä ä1 #
3
x 3 = x2 3 = x2

The order in which we do the squaring and the cube-rooting doesn’t matter. We could’ve broken it down this
way as well:
2 ! 1 "2 ! √ "2
x3 = x3 = 3 x
#3 ! √ "2
You’ll see x2 more often than 3 x because the outside cube root avoids the need for parentheses.

#
4
EXAMPLE 3: Which of the following is equivalent to x5 ?
5 4
A) x B) x5 − x4 C) x 4 D) x 5

1
The fourth root equates to a fractional exponent of , so
4
#
4 Ä ä1 5
x5 = x5 4 = x 4

Answer (C) .

252x
EXAMPLE 4: The expression Ä√ äx is equivalent to 5kx , where k is a constant. What is the value of k ?
5

Because most of the laws of exponents involve terms with the same base, an often-used tactic is to convert
each term to have the same base. Here, we’re asked to simplify to 5kx , so we should convert everything to
have the same base of 5. As is common in this type of question, we see that we have a perfect square, 25,
√ 1
which can be written as 52 . In the denominator, we have 5, which can be written as 5 2 .
! 2 "2x
252x 5 54x 4x − 12 x 7x
Ä√ äx = ! 1 " = 1 = 5 = 52
5 x x
52 52

7
Therefore, k = .
2

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1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS THE COLLEGE PANDA

√
EXAMPLE 5: If the square of a is equal to the cube of b, where a ≥ 0 and b ≥ 0, for what value of x is ax
equal to b ?

Essentially, we need to solve

√
ax = b
for x given that a2 = b3 . Let’s first cube root both sides of a2 = b3 to isolate b:
#
3
#
3
a2 = b3
2
a3 = b
2
Substituting a 3 for b in the equation above, we get

√ 2
ax = a 3
1x 2
a2 = a3

Since both sides have the same base of a, we can just equate the exponents and solve for x:

1 2
x=
2 3
4
x=
3

The SAT will also test you on simplifying square roots (also called “surds”). To simplify a square root, factor
the number inside the square root and take out any pairs:

√ √ $ √ √
48 = 2·2·2·2·3 = 2·2 · 2·2 ·3 = 2·2 3 = 4 3

In the example above, we take a 2 out for the first 2 · 2 . Then we take another 2 out for the second pair 2 · 2 .
Finally, we multiply the two 2’s outside the square root to get 4 and leave the 3 inside. Of course, a quicker
route would have been to break down 48 into bigger factor pairs:

√ $ √
48 = 4·4 ·3 = 4 3

Here’s another example:

√ $ √ √
72 = 2·2 · 3·3 ·2 = 2·3 2 = 6 2
To go backwards, take the number outside and put it back under the square root as a pair:
√ √ √
6 2 = 6 · 6 · 2 = 72
√
3
To simplify a cube root such as 16, take out any triplets:

√ $ √
3 3 3
16 = 2·2·2 ·2 = 2 2

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THE COLLEGE PANDA 1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS

Ä ä3
EXAMPLE 6: Which of the following is equivalent to x2 4 , where x > 0 ?

√ √ #
3 √
A) x B) x x C) x2 D) 4
x

Solution 1:
Ä 2 ä3 (2· 3 ) 3 # » √
x 4 = x 4 = x 2 = x3 = x·x ·x = x x

Answer (B) .

Ä ä3 (2· 3 ) 3
3
Solution 2: Since x2 4 = x 4 = x 2 , we can compare this exponent of to the exponent of x in each of the
2
answer choices.
√ 1
Choice A: x = x2
√ 1 (1+ 1 ) 3
Choice B: x x = x1 · x 2 = x 2 = x 2
#
3
2
Choice C: x2 = x 3
√ 1
Choice D: 4
x = x4

These results confirm that the answer is (B) .

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1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS THE COLLEGE PANDA

EXERCISE 1: Evaluate WITHOUT a calculator. Answers for this exercise start on page 311.

1. (−1)10 7. −33 13. 3– 2

Å ã– 1
2. (−1)15 8. −(−6)2 1
14.
2
3. (−1)8 9. −(−4)3
Å ã– 2
4
4. −18 10. 23 × 32 × (−1)5 15.
3
5. −(−1)8 11. 4– 1

6. (−3)3 12. 50

EXERCISE 2: Simplify so that your answer contains only positive exponents. The first one has been done for
you. Answers for this exercise start on page 312.

! "3
2 · 4k2 8 3x4 m2 n
1. 2k– 4 · 4k2 = = 7. ! "2 12. ! "2
k4 k2 x– 2 mn2

2. 3x2 · 2x3 3 mn
x2 13.
8. 1
m2 n3
2
x
3. 5x4 · 3x– 2
k– 2
! 3 "2 14.
9. (2m)2 · 3m k– 3
3 –3
4. 7m · −3m

! "2
! "– 3 10. a– 1 · a– 2 x 2 y3 z4
5. 2x2 15.
x – 3 y– 4 z– 5

! "– 3 ! 3 "2
2 –3 –5 8 11. b– 2 · b
6. −3a b · 3a b

EXERCISE 3: Simplify the radicals or solve for x. Answers for this exercise start on page 312.

√ √ √ √
1. 12 5. 3 75 9. 2 2 = 4x

√ √ √ √
2. 96 6. 32 10. 4 6 = 2 3x

√ √ √ √ √
3. 45 7. 5 2 = x 11. 3 8 = x 2

√ √ √ √ √
4. 18 8. 3 x = 45 12. x x = 216

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THE COLLEGE PANDA 1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS

EXERCISE 4: Answers for this exercise start on page 313.

1 4
9
Which expression is equivalent to (x2 y)(x4 y– 3 ), Which expression is equivalent to b 7 , where
where x, y, and z are positive numbers? b>0?
#
15
A) x6 y– 3 A) b105
#
15
B) x6 y– 2 B) b135
#
105
C) x8 y– 3 C) b135
#
135
D) x8 y– 2 D) b105

2 5
…
x Which expression represents the product of
Which of the following is equivalent to for
64 Ä 6 −2 −5 ä Ä ä
all x > 0 ? b c d and b8 c−3 + c4 d5 , where b, c, and d
are positive?
x2
A)
8 A) b14 c−5 + c2 d−10
x2 B) b14 c−5 + c2
B)
32 C) b14 c−5 d−5 + b6 c2
D) b14 c−5 d−5 + c2
1
2
x
C)
8
1
x2 6
D)
32
If x %= 0 and y %= 0, which of the following is
8x2
3 equivalent to » ?
4x6 y4
5
x6
Which expression is equivalent to √ , where A) 2xy– 2
3
x
x %= 0 ? B) 4x– 2 y2
1
C) 4x– 1 y– 2
A) x 2
5
2
D) 4xy2
B) x
2
C) x 3
5
D) x 3

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1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS THE COLLEGE PANDA

7 10

If r and s are positive, which of the following Which

√ √ expression
√ is equivalent to
6
7
3
7
rs ( r + s), where r ≥ 0 and s ≥ 0 ?
expressions is equivalent to r s ?
#
1 A) r2 s + rs2
A) # √ √
6 B) r s + s r
r7 s14 √
#
6
C) rs r + s
B) r7 s14 √
D) rs + r + s
1
C) #
7
r 6 s3
#
7
11
D) r 6 s3 %# &n
3
The expression x2 , where n is a constant, is

8 equivalent to x8 . What is the value of n ?

√
b
√
d
a= c
The given equation relates the distinct positive
numbers a, b, c, and d. Which equation correctly
expresses c in terms of a, b, and d ?

d
A) c = 1
ab 12
B) c = ad−b
Which expression is equivalent to 2– 2k · 3k ?
b
C) c = a d √
A) (3 2)k
d
D) c = a b Å ãk
1
B)
36
Å ãk
9 3
» C)
2 4
Which expression is equivalent to 16a 3 , where Å ãk
9
a>0? D)
4
1
A) 4a 3
4
13
B) 4a 3
2 2 2
1
3 Which expression is equivalent to a 9 (a 3 ) 3 ,
C) 8a
where a is positive?
4
D) 8a 3 #
3
A) a2
#
3
B) a16
#
9
C) a8
#
9
D) a14

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THE COLLEGE PANDA 1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS

14
Å ã
4 2 a
Which expression is equivalent to ?
9 3
Å ãa
2 2
A)
3
Å ãa−2
2
B)
3
Å ãa+2
2
C)
3
Å ã2a
2
D)
3

15
#
4
#
12
x3 · x5
√
The given expression is equivalent to x n ,
m

where m and n are positive constants each less

m
than 10 and x > 1. What is the value of ?
n

16

Two numbers, p and q, are each greater than

zero, and the square of p is equal to the cube root
of q. For what value of x is p1− x equal to the
square root of q ?

19
1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS THE COLLEGE PANDA

EXERCISE 5: Answers for this exercise start on page 314.

1 5
# »
Which expression is equivalent to 100x36 ? Which expression is equivalent to 4
x2 y4 , where
x > 0 and y > 0 ?
A) 10x6 √
A) xy
B) 50x6 √
B) y x
C) 10x18
1
D) 50x18 C)
x2
D) x2 y
2
! "4k ! 1 "24
If 53 = 5 3 , what is the value of k ? 6
1 ! √ "2
A) −6
Which expression is equivalent to p 3 · 3 p ,
2 where p is greater than 0 ?
B)
3
2
3 A) p 3
C)
4 2
D) 2 B) p9
7
C) p 3
3 D) p
1
2
Which of the following is equivalent to 3y for
all y > 0 ? 7
#
A) 3y 2a
# Which expression is equivalent to x b for all
B) 9y positive values of x, where a and b are positive
3 integers?
C)
y #
b
A) ax2
9 #
D) B)
b
x2a
y
#
b
C) x a +2
#
2a
4 D) xb

Which expression is equivalent to 4m+2 ?

8
A) 16m
97
B) 16 + 4m If #
4
= 96t , what is the value of t ?
10
9
C) 8(4m )
D) 16(4m )

20
THE COLLEGE PANDA 1. EXPONENTS & RADICALS

9 13
3 1 1 1
Which expression is equivalent to a 4 b 2 , where Which expression is equivalent to 9 n (4 2n ), where
a ≥ 0 and b ≥ 0 ? n is a positive integer?
#4
a3 b
1
A) A) 24 n
#4
B) a3 b2 1

# B) 12 n
√
C) a3 b C) n 18
# √
D) a4 b2 D) n 6

10 14
5 –1 7 #
6
Which expression is equivalent to h 12 (h 4 ) 3 , 10 93 x48
#
where h > 0 ? 4
64 x
1
A) The given expression is equivalent to ax b , where
h6 a > 0, b > 0, and x > 1. What is the value of ab ?
#
B) h5
1
C) √
6
h
1
D) #
5
h2

15
11
√
8
Ä√
9
ä12 If m and n are both positive numbers, and 4m is
41k 41k equal to the cube root of the square of n, for
what value of x is m x equal to n when m = 2 ?
For what value of x is the given expression
equivalent to (41k)25x , where k > 1 ?

16

12 If 2x+3 − 2x = k(2x ), what is the value of k ?

The expression 418x is equivalent to k3x , where k A) 3

is a constant. What is the value of k ? B) 5
C) 7
D) 8

21