Tgeia5 01 07
Tgeia5 01 07
7
Exponents and Order of
Operations
Objectives
Evaluate exponential expressions
Use the order of operations rules
Evaluate expressions containing grouping
symbols
Find the mean (average)
Objective 1: Evaluate Exponential
Expressions
In the expression 3 3 3 3 3, the number 3 repeats as a
factor five times. We can use exponential notation to write
this product in a more compact form.
Exponent and Base: An exponent is used to indicate repeated
multiplication. It is how many times the base is used as a factor.
In the exponential expression
35, the base is 3, and 5 is the
exponent. The expression is
called a power of 3.
Some other examples of
exponential expressions are:
Objective 1: Evaluate Exponential
Expressions
To evaluate (find the value of) an exponential expression, we write the
base as a factor the number of times indicated by the exponent. Then we
multiply the factors.
EXAMPLE 2
Evaluate each expression:
a. 53, b. (−2/3)3, c. 101, d. (0.6)2, e. (−3)4, f. (−3)5
Although the expressions (−4)2 and −42 look alike, they are not. When we find
the value of each expression, it becomes clear that they are not equivalent.
Objective 2: Use the Order of Operations Rules
Suppose you have been asked to contact a friend if you see a Rolex
watch for sale when you are traveling in Europe.
While in Switzerland, you find the watch and send the text message
shown on the left.
The next day, you get the response shown on the right.
Something is wrong. The first part of the response (No price too high!) says to
buy the watch at any price. The second part (No! Price too high.) says not to buy
it, because it’s too expensive.
The placement of the exclamation point makes us read the two parts of
the response differently, resulting in different meanings.
When reading a mathematical statement, the same kind of confusion is
possible.
Objective 2: Use the Order of Operations Rules
For example, consider the expression 2 + 3 6.
We can evaluate this expression in two ways.
We can add first, and then multiply.
Or we can multiply first, and then add. However, the
results are different.
d. Although this expression contains parentheses, there are no operations to perform within
them. Since there are no exponents, we will perform the multiplications as they occur from
left to right.
Objective 3: Evaluate Expressions Containing
Grouping Symbols
Grouping symbols serve as mathematical punctuation
marks. They help determine the order in which an
expression is to be evaluated.
Examples of grouping symbols are parentheses ( ), brackets [ ],
braces { }, absolute value symbols | |, and the fraction bar —.
Expressions can contain two or more pairs of grouping
symbols.
To evaluate the following expression, we begin within the
innermost pair of grouping symbols, the parentheses. Then we
work within the outermost pair, the brackets.
EXAMPLE 6 Evaluate: −4[2 + 3(4 − 82)] − 2
Solution
Objective 4: Find the Mean (Average)
The arithmetic mean (or simply mean) of a set
of numbers is a value around which the values
of the numbers are grouped. The mean is also
commonly called the average.
Finding An Arithmetic Mean: To find the mean of a
set of values, divide the sum of the values by the
number of values.
EXAMPLE 9 Hotel Reservations
In an effort to improve customer service, a hotel
electronically recorded the number of times the
reservation desk telephone rang before it was
answered by a receptionist. The results of the
week-long survey are shown in the table.
Find the average(mean) number of times the
phone rang before a receptionist answered.
Why To find the average value of a set of values, we divide the sum
of the values by the number of values.
EXAMPLE 9 Hotel Reservations
Solution
To find the total number of rings, we multiply each number of rings (1, 2, 3, 4,
and 5 rings) by the respective number of occurrences and add those subtotals.