For instructional purposes only • SY 2020-2021 Math IIB: Advanced Algebra

Lesson 5.1: Zero and Negative Exponents

Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you (student) should be able to:
1. Review the concepts related to positive integral exponents
2. Define zero and negative exponent
3. Express and simplify given expressions without zero or negative exponent

Materials and Equipment Needed

1. Laptop/Netbook
2. Module
3. Notebook/Short-sized bond paper
* Learning Tasks / Learning Check must be answered in your notebook/ short-sized bond
paper.

Learning Activities
Before our discussion on the topic presented above, let us first answer the activity below.

Below are examples of a zero and negative exponent. Try to evaluate the
following expressions below:
• (1,000,000)0
• 5−1

Learning Probe
Based on the activity performed, how did you evaluate zero exponent? how about the negative
exponent?

Learning Time
At this time, we will be discussing concepts and terminologies of the Zero and Negative
Exponents. But before that, let’s have a review on concepts related to Positive Integral Exponents.

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Reviewing Concepts Related to Positive Integral Concept

The positive integral exponent was already defined in Elementary Algebra. According to
the definition, 𝑎 𝑥 means the product obtained by taking 𝒂 as a factor 𝒙 times.
In symbols, if 𝑥 is a positive integer,

𝑎𝑥 = ⏟
𝑎 ∙𝑎 ∙𝑎…𝑎
𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

For instance,
𝑦4 = 𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ∙ 𝑦 ∙ 𝑦

25 = (2)(2)(2)(2)(2) = 32

The definition will be used to prove the first three laws of exponents.

The First Law of Exponents

𝑎 𝑥 ∙ 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥+𝑦 for positive integers x and y

Proof:

𝑎 𝑥 ∙ 𝑎 𝑦 = (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎) (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎)
𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … .∙ 𝑎)
(𝑥+𝑦)𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= 𝑎 𝑥+𝑦
Example 1.
Give the product of the following:
a. 𝑚5 ∙ 𝑚7 b. (33 )(3)

Solution:
a. 𝑚5 ∙ 𝑚7 = 𝑚5+7 = 𝑚12

b. (33 )( 3) = 33+1 = 34 = 81

The Second Law of Exponents

(𝑎 𝑥 )𝑦 = 𝑎 𝑥𝑦 for positive integers x and y

Proof:

(𝑎 𝑥 )𝑦 = ⏟
𝑎𝑥 ∙ 𝑎𝑥 ∙ 𝑎𝑥 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎𝑥
𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

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(𝑎 𝑥 )𝑦 = (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎) ∙ (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎) ∙ (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎) ∙ ⋯ ∙ (𝑎
⏟ ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎)
⏟ 𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠
𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= ⏟
𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … .∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … .
𝑥𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= 𝑎 𝑥𝑦
Example 2.
Simplify each expression

a. (𝑛4 )5 b. (42 )2

Solution:
a. (𝑛4 )5 = 𝑛(4)(5) = 𝑛20

b. (42 )2 = 4(2)(2) = 44 = 256

The Third Law of Exponents

(𝑎𝑏)𝑥 = 𝑎 𝑥 𝑏 𝑥 for positive integers x.

Proof:
(𝑎𝑏)𝑥 = ⏟
(𝑎𝑏 ∙ 𝑎𝑏 ∙ 𝑎𝑏 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎𝑏)
𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

(𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 ∙ … ∙ 𝑎) ⏟
=⏟ (𝑏 ∙ 𝑏 ∙ 𝑏 ∙ … ∙ 𝑏)
𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠 𝑥 𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑠

= 𝑎𝑥 𝑏 𝑥

Example 3.
Evaluate each expression.
b. (𝑥𝑦)5 b. (3𝑥𝑦 2 )4

Solution:
𝑎. (𝑥𝑦)5 = 𝑥 5 𝑦 5

b.(3𝑥𝑦 2 )4 = 34 𝑥 4 𝑦 (2)(4)
=81𝑥 4 𝑦 8

The first three laws of exponents are used in multiplying expressions with positive integral
exponents. The next two laws are used in dividing expressions with positive integral exponents.

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The Fourth Law of Exponents

𝒂𝒙
𝐼𝑓 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 = 𝒂𝒙−𝒚 𝑖𝑓 𝒙 > 𝑦.
𝒂𝒚

The Fifth Law of Exponents

𝒂 𝒙 𝒂𝒙
𝐼𝑓 𝒃 ≠ 𝟎, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛 ( ) = 𝒙.
𝒃 𝒃

Example 4.
Simplify.

2
𝑥 10 3𝑚5 𝑛
a. b. { }
𝑥6 2𝑚

Solution:
𝑥 10
a. = 𝑥 10−6 = 𝑥 4
𝑥6

2
3𝑚5 𝑛 (3𝑚5 𝑛)2
b. { } = Fifth Law of Exponents
2𝑚 (2𝑚)2

32 𝑚10 𝑛2
= Law of Exponents
22 𝑚2

9𝑚10 𝑛2
= Definition of Exponent
4𝑚2

9𝑚8 𝑛2
= Fourth Law of Exponents
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Learning Tasks
NOW TRY EXERCISE 1,2, and 3
Simplify
2
12𝑥 3 5𝑥 6 𝑧 3
1. (𝑥 4 𝑦 6 )2 2. ( ) 3.
6𝑦 4 10𝑦 4 𝑧 4

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Zero and Negative Exponents

The definition and the laws of exponents hold not only for positive integers but can be
extended to include 𝒛𝒆𝒓𝒐 and 𝒏𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒔.

𝑎𝑥
Recall that the 4th Law of Exponents says that if 𝑎 ≠ 0, = 𝑎 𝑥−𝑦 if 𝑥 > 𝑦 .
𝑏𝑦

If this law is to hold when 𝑥 = 𝑦, then

𝑎𝑥
= 𝑎 𝑥−𝑦 = 𝑎0
𝑎𝑦

This division resulted in a zero exponent. However, any nonzero number or expression
divided by itself has 1 as the quotient. That is,
𝑎𝑥
=1
𝑏𝑦

By transitivity, 𝑎0 = 1

Zero Exponent

𝒂0 = 1 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝒂.

Similarly, if the 1st Law of Exponents holds when 𝑥 = −𝑦

𝑎−𝑦 ∙ 𝑎 𝑦 = 𝑎−𝑦+𝑦 = 𝑎0 = 1

or
𝑎−𝑦 ∙ 𝑎 𝑦 = 1

If both sides of this equation are divided by 𝑎 𝑦 ,

𝑎−𝑦 ∙ 𝑎 𝑦 1
=
𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑦

1
𝑎−𝑦 =
𝑎𝑦

This equation serves as the definition of negative integral exponent.

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Negative Exponent

1
𝒂−𝒙 = 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝒂 ≠ 𝟎, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝒙 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟.
𝑎𝑥

Example 5.
Simplify each expression.

a. 7𝑥 0 b. (7𝑥)0

Solution
a. 7𝑥 0 = 7 (1) = 7 b. (7𝑥)0 = 70 𝑥 0 = (1) ∙ (1) = 1

Example 6.
Evaluate each numerical expression
a. (−5)0 b. (3−2 )−3

3 −4
c.(2−2 )3 d. ( )
2

Solution

a. (−5)0 = 1

b. (3−2 )−3 = 3(−2)(−3) = 36 = 729

1 1
c. (2−2 )3 = 2−6 = =
26 64

3 −4 3−4
d. ( ) = ( )
2 2−4

1
34
= 1
24

1 24
= ∙
34 1

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24
=
34

16
=
81

3 −4
NOTE that ( ) can also be simplified in the following manner:
2

3 −4 2 4
( ) =( )
2 3

24
=
34

16
=
81

Example 7.
Express each of the following without zero and negative exponents, then
simplify.

𝑚−2 𝑛3 2−2 𝑥 2 𝑦 3
a. b.
𝑥 2 𝑦 −5 4−1 𝑥 0 𝑦 −2

−1
52 𝑎−1 𝑏−3 𝑝−3 +𝑞−2
c.( ) d.
10𝑏0 𝑐 −4 𝑞 −1

Solution

𝑚−2 𝑛3 𝑛3 𝑦 5
a. =
𝑥 2 𝑦 −5 𝑚2 𝑥 2

2−2 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 41 𝑥 2 𝑦 3 ∙𝑦 2
b. =
4−1 𝑥 0 𝑦 −2 22 ∙1

4𝑥 2 𝑦 5
=
4

= 𝑥2𝑦5

−1
52 𝑎−1 𝑏−3 5−2 ab3
c. ( ) = 4
10𝑏0 𝑐 −4 10−1 b0c

10𝑎𝑏3
=
52 𝑐 4

10𝑎𝑏3
=
25𝑐 4

2𝑎𝑏3
=
5𝑐 4

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1 1
𝑝−3 +𝑞−2 +
𝑝3 𝑞2
d. = 1
𝑞−1
𝑞

𝑞2 +𝑝3
𝑝3𝑞2
= 1
𝑞

𝑞2 + 𝑝3 𝑞
= ∙
𝑝3 𝑞2 1

𝑞2 + 𝑝3
=
𝑝3 𝑞

Learning Tasks
NOW TRY EXERCISE 4, 5, and 6
Express each of the following without zero and negative exponents
−2
𝑥 −2 𝑦 −3 2−3 +3−2
4. 𝑥 3 𝑥 −4 𝑦 0 5. ( ) 6.
20 𝑧 −1 2−2

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Learning Check
Instructions: Answer the following in a short-sized bond paper or using MS Word.

A. Simplify.
1. (4𝑥 2 𝑦𝑧 5 )3

2. (3𝑎𝑏 2 𝑐 4 )2 (−3𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧)3

81𝑥 4
3. (3𝑥)2

3
3𝑥 2 𝑦6
4. ( )
6𝑥𝑦 2

B. Express each of the following without zero or negative exponents, then simplify.

5. (65 ∙ 6−3 )−1

32 𝑥 −3 𝑦 −4
6.
2−1 𝑥 −4 𝑦 −5

−3
2𝑘 2 𝑏−1
7. ( )
3𝑧 −4

8. (𝑥 −5 )3 (𝑥 2 )

9. 𝑥 3 𝑥 −3 𝑦 −4

𝑥 −1
10.
𝑥 −1 +𝑦 −2

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Instructions on How to Submit Student Output

ONLINE SUBMISSION
Submit your LEARNING TASKS and CHECK by the following steps:
1. In your Microsoft word file / paper, write or type in the information needed below. (kindly
see sample in the table)

Student’s Name: Subject:

Grade Level & Section: Mobile Number:
Module No.: Lesson No.
Date of Submission:
LEARNING TASKS/LEARNING CHECK

2. Include a short introductory message expressing polite and kind words like “Good
Morning, Maam! Here is my.”
3. Submit your answers using a screenshot of your output/ in a word file/ PDF format with a
file name “Surname_MathIIB Lesson 1.1” (ex. Dela Cruz_MathIIB Lesson 1.1) to our Virtual
Classroom or to my official email account at [email protected].
4. If you need more clarifications, feel free to send me a message through e-mail, cellular
phone 09484143834, or in FB messenger (FB account: Nancy Cabintoy Donayre –
Abunda) during business hours only from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

OFFLINE SUBMISSION
Submit your LEARNING TASKS and CHECK by the following steps:
1. Encoded or hand-written answers are both acceptable.
2. In your Microsoft word file / paper, write or type in the information needed below. (kindly
see sample in the table)

Student’s Name: Subject:

Grade Level & Section: Mobile Number:
Module No.: Lesson No.

LEARNING TASKS/LEARNING CHECK

3. Include a short introductory message expressing polite and kind words like “Good
Morning, Maam! Here is my.”
4. Submit your outputs in the designated VSUIHS Learning Kiosk on the date of submission
stipulated in every lesson embedded in the module or you are highly recommended to
submit it in our Virtual Classroom or to my official email account at
[email protected].
5. If you are living outside Baybay City, please submit it through courier or VSU Links.
6. If you need more clarifications, feel free to send me a message through e-mail, cellular
phone 09484143834, or in FB messenger (FB account: Nancy Cabintoy Donayre –
Abunda) during business hours from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

The deadline of submission of this lesson is on February 12, 2021.

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