1. 3 Rules for Exponents

Anatomy of exponential terms

We use exponential notation to write repeated multiplication. For example [latex]10\cdot10\cdot10[/latex] can be written more succinctly as [latex]10^{3}[/latex]. The 10 in [latex]10^{3}[/latex] is called the base. The 3 in [latex]10^{3}[/latex] is called the exponent. The expression [latex]10^{3}[/latex] is called the exponential expression. Knowing the names for the parts of an exponential expression or term will help you learn how to perform mathematical operations on them.

[latex]\text{base}\rightarrow10^{3\leftarrow\text{exponent}}[/latex]

[latex]10^{3}[/latex] is read as “10 to the third power” or “10 cubed.” It means [latex]10\cdot10\cdot10[/latex], or 1,000.

[latex]8^{2}[/latex] is read as “8 to the second power” or “8 squared.” It means [latex]8\cdot8[/latex], or 64.

[latex]5^{4}[/latex] is read as “5 to the fourth power.” It means [latex]5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5[/latex], or 625.

[latex]b^{5}[/latex] is read as “b to the fifth power.” It means [latex]{b}\cdot{b}\cdot{b}\cdot{b}\cdot{b}[/latex]. Its value will depend on the value of b.

The exponent applies only to the number that it is next to. Therefore, in the expression [latex]xy^{4}[/latex], only the y is affected by the 4. [latex]xy^{4}[/latex] means [latex]{x}\cdot{y}\cdot{y}\cdot{y}\cdot{y}[/latex]. The x in this term is a coefficient of y.

If the exponential expression is negative, such as [latex]−3^{4}[/latex], it means [latex]–\left(3\cdot3\cdot3\cdot3\right)[/latex] or [latex]−81[/latex].

If [latex]−3[/latex] is to be the base, it must be written as [latex]\left(−3\right)^{4}[/latex], which means [latex]−3\cdot−3\cdot−3\cdot−3[/latex], or 81.

Likewise, [latex]\left(−x\right)^{4}=\left(−x\right)\cdot\left(−x\right)\cdot\left(−x\right)\cdot\left(−x\right)=x^{4}[/latex], while [latex]−x^{4}=–\left(x\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x\right)[/latex].

You can see that there is quite a difference, so you have to be very careful! The following examples show how to identify the base and the exponent, as well as how to identify the expanded and exponential format of writing repeated multiplication.

In the following video you are provided more examples of applying exponents to various bases.

Evaluate expressions

Evaluating expressions containing exponents is the same as evaluating the linear expressions from earlier in the course. You substitute the value of the variable into the expression and simplify.

You can use the order of operations to evaluate the expressions containing exponents. First, evaluate anything in Parentheses or grouping symbols. Next, look for Exponents, followed by Multiplication and Division (reading from left to right), and lastly, Addition and Subtraction (again, reading from left to right).

So, when you evaluate the expression [latex]5x^{3}[/latex] if [latex]x=4[/latex], first substitute the value 4 for the variable x. Then evaluate, using order of operations.

In the example below, notice the how adding parentheses can change the outcome when you are simplifying terms with exponents.

The addition of parentheses made quite a difference! Parentheses allow you to apply an exponent to variables or numbers that are multiplied, divided, added, or subtracted to each other.

Caution!

Whether to include a negative sign as part of a base or not often leads to confusion. To clarify whether a negative sign is applied before or after the exponent, here is an example.

What is the difference in the way you would evaluate these two terms?

1. [latex]-{3}^{2}[/latex]
2. [latex]{\left(-3\right)}^{2}[/latex]

To evaluate 1), you would apply the exponent to the three first, then apply the negative sign last, like this:

[latex]\begin{array}{c}-\left({3}^{2}\right)\\=-\left(9\right) = -9\end{array}[/latex]

To evaluate 2), you would apply the exponent to the 3 and the negative sign:

[latex]\begin{array}{c}{\left(-3\right)}^{2}\\=\left(-3\right)\cdot\left(-3\right)\\={ 9}\end{array}[/latex]

The key to remembering this is to follow the order of operations. The first expression does not include parentheses so you would apply the exponent to the integer 3 first, then apply the negative sign. The second expression includes parentheses, so hopefully you will remember that the negative sign also gets squared.

In the next sections, you will learn how to simplify expressions that contain exponents. Come back to this page if you forget how to apply the order of operations to a term with exponents, or forget which is the base and which is the exponent!

In the following video you are provided with examples of evaluating exponential expressions for a given number.

Use the product rule to multiply exponential expressions

Exponential notation was developed to write repeated multiplication more efficiently. There are times when it is easier or faster to leave the expressions in exponential notation when multiplying or dividing. Let’s look at rules that will allow you to do this.

For example, the notation [latex]5^{4}[/latex] can be expanded and written as [latex]5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5[/latex], or 625. And don’t forget, the exponent only applies to the number immediately to its left, unless there are parentheses.

What happens if you multiply two numbers in exponential form with the same base? Consider the expression [latex]{2}^{3}{2}^{4}[/latex]. Expanding each exponent, this can be rewritten as [latex]\left(2\cdot2\cdot2\right)\left(2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\right)[/latex] or [latex]2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2[/latex]. In exponential form, you would write the product as [latex]2^{7}[/latex]. Notice that 7 is the sum of the original two exponents, 3 and 4.

What about [latex]{x}^{2}{x}^{6}[/latex]? This can be written as [latex]\left(x\cdot{x}\right)\left(x\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\right)=x\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}\cdot{x}[/latex] or [latex]x^{8}[/latex]. And, once again, 8 is the sum of the original two exponents. This concept can be generalized in the following way:

The Product Rule for Exponents

For any number x and any integers a and b, [latex]\left(x^{a}\right)\left(x^{b}\right) = x^{a+b}[/latex].

To multiply exponential terms with the same base, add the exponents.

Caution!

When you are reading mathematical rules, it is important to pay attention to the conditions on the rule.  For example, when using the product rule, you may only apply it when the terms being multiplied have the same base and the exponents are integers. Conditions on mathematical rules are often given before the rule is stated, as in this example it says “For any number x, and any integers a and b.”

When multiplying more complicated terms, multiply the coefficients and then multiply the variables.

Caution!

Do not try to apply this rule to sums.

Think about the expression [latex]\left(2+3\right)^{2}[/latex]

Does [latex]\left(2+3\right)^{2}[/latex] equal [latex]2^{2}+3^{2}[/latex]?

No, it does not because of the order of operations!

[latex]\left(2+3\right)^{2}=5^{2}=25[/latex]

and

[latex]2^{2}+3^{2}=4+9=13[/latex]

Therefore, you can only use this rule when the numbers inside the parentheses are being multiplied (or divided, as we will see next).

Use the quotient rule to divide exponential expressions

Let’s look at dividing terms containing exponential expressions. What happens if you divide two numbers in exponential form with the same base? Consider the following expression.

[latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{4}^{5}}}{{{4}^{2}}}[/latex]

You can rewrite the expression as: [latex]\displaystyle \frac{4\cdot 4\cdot 4\cdot 4\cdot 4}{4\cdot 4}[/latex]. Then you can cancel the common factors of 4 in the numerator and denominator: [latex]\displaystyle[/latex]

Finally, this expression can be rewritten as [latex]4^{3}[/latex] using exponential notation. Notice that the exponent, 3, is the difference between the two exponents in the original expression, 5 and 2.

So, [latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{4}^{5}}}{{{4}^{2}}}=4^{5-2}=4^{3}[/latex].

Be careful that you subtract the exponent in the denominator from the exponent in the numerator.

So, to divide two exponential terms with the same base, subtract the exponents.

The Quotient (Division) Rule for Exponents

For any non-zero number x and any integers a and b: [latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{x}^{a}}}{{{x}^{b}}}={{x}^{a-b}}[/latex]

When dividing terms that also contain coefficients, divide the coefficients and then divide variable powers with the same base by subtracting the exponents.

In the following video we show another example of how to use the quotient rule to divide exponential expressions

Raise powers to powers

Another word for exponent is power.  You have likely seen or heard an example such as [latex]3^5[/latex] can be described as 3 raised to the 5th power. In this section we will further expand our capabilities with exponents. We will learn what to do when a term with a power is raised to another power, and what to do when two numbers or variables are multiplied and both are raised to an exponent.  We will also learn what to do when numbers or variables that are divided are raised to a power.  We will begin by raising powers to powers.

Let’s simplify [latex]\left(5^{2}\right)^{4}[/latex]. In this case, the base is [latex]5^2[/latex] and the exponent is 4, so you multiply [latex]5^{2}[/latex] four times: [latex]\left(5^{2}\right)^{4}=5^{2}\cdot5^{2}\cdot5^{2}\cdot5^{2}=5^{8}[/latex] (using the Product Rule—add the exponents).

[latex]\left(5^{2}\right)^{4}[/latex] is a power of a power. It is the fourth power of 5 to the second power. And we saw above that the answer is [latex]5^{8}[/latex]. Notice that the new exponent is the same as the product of the original exponents: [latex]2\cdot4=8[/latex].

So, [latex]\left(5^{2}\right)^{4}=5^{2\cdot4}=5^{8}[/latex] (which equals 390,625, if you do the multiplication).

Likewise, [latex]\left(x^{4}\right)^{3}=x^{4\cdot3}=x^{12}[/latex]

This leads to another rule for exponents—the Power Rule for Exponents. To simplify a power of a power, you multiply the exponents, keeping the base the same. For example, [latex]\left(2^{3}\right)^{5}=2^{15}[/latex].

The Power Rule for Exponents

For any positive number x and integers a and b: [latex]\left(x^{a}\right)^{b}=x^{a\cdot{b}}[/latex].

Take a moment to contrast how this is different from the product rule for exponents found on the previous page.

Raise a product to a power

Simplify this expression.

[latex]\left(2a\right)^{4}=\left(2a\right)\left(2a\right)\left(2a\right)\left(2a\right)=\left(2\cdot2\cdot2\cdot2\right)\left(a\cdot{a}\cdot{a}\cdot{a}\cdot{a}\right)=\left(2^{4}\right)\left(a^{4}\right)=16a^{4}[/latex]

Notice that the exponent is applied to each factor of 2a. So, we can eliminate the middle steps.

[latex]\begin{array}{l}\left(2a\right)^{4} = \left(2^{4}\right)\left(a^{4}\right)\text{, applying the }4\text{ to each factor, }2\text{ and }a\\\\\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,\,=16a^{4}\end{array}[/latex]

The product of two or more numbers raised to a power is equal to the product of each number raised to the same power.

A Product Raised to a Power

For any nonzero numbers a and b and any integer x, [latex]\left(ab\right)^{x}=a^{x}\cdot{b^{x}}[/latex].

How is this rule different from the power raised to a power rule? How is it different from the product rule for exponents on the previous page?

If the variable has an exponent with it, use the Power Rule: multiply the exponents.

Raise a quotient to a power

Now let’s look at what happens if you raise a quotient to a power. Remember that quotient means divide. Suppose you have [latex]\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}[/latex] and raise it to the 3^rd power.

[latex]\displaystyle {{\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)}^{3}}=\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)=\frac{3\cdot 3\cdot 3}{4\cdot 4\cdot 4}=\frac{{{3}^{3}}}{{{4}^{3}}}[/latex]

You can see that raising the quotient to the power of 3 can also be written as the numerator (3) to the power of 3, and the denominator (4) to the power of 3.

Similarly, if you are using variables, the quotient raised to a power is equal to the numerator raised to the power over the denominator raised to power.

[latex]\displaystyle {{\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)}^{4}}=\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)=\frac{a\cdot a\cdot a\cdot a}{b\cdot b\cdot b\cdot b}=\frac{{{a}^{4}}}{{{b}^{4}}}[/latex]

When a quotient is raised to a power, you can apply the power to the numerator and denominator individually, as shown below.

[latex]\displaystyle {{\left( \frac{a}{b} \right)}^{4}}=\frac{{{a}^{4}}}{{{b}^{4}}}[/latex]

A Quotient Raised to a Power

For any number a, any non-zero number b, and any integer x, [latex]\displaystyle {\left(\frac{a}{b}\right)}^{x}=\frac{a^{x}}{b^{x}}[/latex].

In the following video you will be shown examples of simplifying quotients that are raised to a power.

Define and use the zero exponent rule

When we defined the quotient rule, we only worked with expressions like the following: [latex]\frac{{{4}^{9}}}{{{4}^{4}}}[/latex], where the exponent in the numerator (up) was greater than the one in the denominator (down), so the final exponent after simplifying was always a positive number, and greater than zero. In this section, we will explore what happens when we apply the quotient rule for exponents and get a negative or zero exponent.

What if the exponent is zero?

To see how this is defined, let us begin with an example. We will use the idea that dividing any number by itself gives a result of 1.

[latex]\frac{t^{8}}{t^{8}}=\frac{\cancel{t^{8}}}{\cancel{t^{8}}}=1[/latex]

If we were to simplify the original expression using the quotient rule, we would have

[latex]\frac{{t}^{8}}{{t}^{8}}={t}^{8 - 8}={t}^{0}[/latex]

If we equate the two answers, the result is [latex]{t}^{0}=1[/latex]. This is true for any nonzero real number, or any variable representing a real number.

The sole exception is the expression [latex]{0}^{0}[/latex]. This appears later in more advanced courses, but for now, we will consider the value to be undefined, or DNE (Does Not Exist).

Exponents of 0 or 1

Any number or variable raised to a power of 1 is the number itself.

[latex]n^{1}=n[/latex]

Any non-zero number or variable raised to a power of 0 is equal to 1

[latex]n^{0}=1[/latex]

The quantity [latex]0^{0}[/latex] is undefined.

As done previously, to evaluate expressions containing exponents of 0 or 1, substitute the value of the variable into the expression and simplify.

In the following video there is an example of evaluating an expression with an exponent of zero, as well as simplifying when you get a result of a zero exponent.

Define and use the negative exponent rule

We proposed another question at the beginning of this section.  Given a quotient like [latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{2}^{m}}}{{{2}^{n}}}[/latex] what happens when n is larger than m? We will need to use the negative rule of exponents to simplify the expression so that it is easier to understand.

Let’s look at an example to clarify this idea. Given the expression:

[latex]\frac{{h}^{3}}{{h}^{5}}[/latex]

Expand the numerator and denominator, all the terms in the numerator will cancel to 1, leaving two hs multiplied in the denominator, and a numerator of 1.

We could have also applied the quotient rule from the last section, to obtain the following result:

[latex]\begin{array}{r}\frac{h^{3}}{h^{5}}\,\,\,=\,\,\,h^{3-5}\\\\=\,\,\,h^{-2}\,\,\end{array}[/latex]

Putting the answers together, we have [latex]{h}^{-2}=\frac{1}{{h}^{2}}[/latex]. This is true when h, or any variable, is a real number and is not zero.

The Negative Rule of Exponents

For any nonzero real number [latex]a[/latex] and natural number [latex]n[/latex], the negative rule of exponents states that
[latex]{a}^{-n}=\frac{1}{{a}^{n}}[/latex]
Let’s looks at some examples of how this rule applies under different circumstances.

In the follwoing video you will see examples of simplifying expressions with negative exponents.

Simplify expressions using a combination of exponent rules

Once the rules of exponents are understood, you can begin simplifying more complicated expressions. There are many applications and formulas that make use of exponents, and sometimes expressions can get pretty cluttered. Simplifying an expression before evaluating can often make the computation easier, as you will see in the following example which makes use of the quotient rule to simplify before substituting 4 for x.

Notice that you could have worked this problem by substituting 4 for x and 2 for y in the original expression. You would still get the answer of 96, but the computation would be much more complex. Notice that you didn’t even need to use the value of y to evaluate the above expression.

In the following video you are shown examples of evaluating an exponential expression for given numbers.

Usually, it is easier to simplify the expression before substituting any values for your variables, but you will get the same answer either way. In the next examples, you will see how to simplify expressions using different combinations of the rules for exponents.

The following examples require the use of all the exponent rules we have learned so far. Remember that the product, power, and quotient rules apply when your terms have the same base.

Simplify Expressions With Negative Exponents

Now we will add the last layer to our exponent simplifying skills and practice simplifying compound expressions that have negative exponents in them. It is standard convention to write exponents as positive because it is easier for the user to understand the value associated with positive exponents, rather than negative exponents.

Use the following summary of negative exponents to help you simplify expressions with negative exponents.

Rules for Negative Exponents

With a, b, m, and n not equal to zero, and m and n as integers, the following rules apply:

[latex]a^{-m}=\frac{1}{a^{m}}[/latex]

[latex]\frac{1}{a^{-m}}=a^{m}[/latex]

[latex]\frac{a^{-n}}{b^{-m}}=\frac{b^m}{a^n}[/latex]

When you are simplifying expressions that have many layers of exponents, it is often hard to know where to start. It is common to start in one of two ways:

• Rewrite negative exponents as positive exponents
• Apply the product rule to eliminate any “outer” layer exponents such as in the following term: [latex]\left(5y^3\right)^2[/latex]

We will explore this idea with the following example:

Simplify. [latex]\displaystyle {{\left( 4{{x}^{3}} \right)}^{5}}\cdot \,\,{{\left( 2{{x}^{2}} \right)}^{-4}}[/latex]

Write your answer with positive exponents. The table below shows how to simplify the same expression in two different ways, rewriting negative exponents as positive first, and applying the product rule for exponents first. You will see that there is a column for each method that describes the exponent rule or other steps taken to simplify the expression.

If you compare the two columns that describe the steps that were taken to simplify the expression, you will see that they are all nearly the same, except the order is changed slightly. Neither way is better or more correct than the other, it truly is a matter of preference.

In the next section, you will learn how to write very large and very small numbers using exponents. This practice is widely used in science and engineering.

Summary

• Evaluating expressions containing exponents is the same as evaluating any expression. You substitute the value of the variable into the expression and simplify.
• The product rule for exponents: For any number x and any integers a and b, [latex]\left(x^{a}\right)\left(x^{b}\right) = x^{a+b}[/latex].
• The quotient rule for exponents: For any non-zero number x and any integers a and b: [latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{x}^{a}}}{{{x}^{b}}}={{x}^{a-b}}[/latex]
• The power rule for exponents:
  1. For any nonzero numbers a and b and any integer x, [latex]\left(ab\right)^{x}=a^{x}\cdot{b^{x}}[/latex].
  2. For any number a, any non-zero number b, and any integer x, [latex]\displaystyle {\left(\frac{a}{b}\right)}^{x}=\frac{a^{x}}{b^{x}}[/latex]

Chapter Attribution

Rules for Exponents in Mathematics for the Liberal Arts by Lumen Learning. CC BY License.