Table of Contents
Last modified on November 22nd, 2024
Exponent rules, also known as ‘laws of exponents’ or ‘properties of exponents, ’ are certain rules that help us to simplify expressions involving exponents that can be decimal numbers, fractions, or irrational numbers.
It states that when we multiply two expressions with the same base, we add their exponents.
Mathematically,
For example, if we multiply 82 and 87 without using the product rule, we have a long calculation to do:
82 × 87 = (8 × 8) × (8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8 × 8) = 89
Instead, by using the product rule, we get
82 × 87 = 82 + 7 = 89
This rule simplifies multiplying powers with the same base by adding the exponents into a single expression.
It states that when dividing two expressions with the same base, we subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator.
Mathematically,
For example,
${\dfrac{5^{6}}{5^{2}}=5^{6-2}}$ = ${5^{4}}$
This rule simplifies division by subtracting the exponents when the bases are the same. Without applying the rule, the calculation would be:
${\dfrac{5^{6}}{5^{2}}}$ = ${\dfrac{5\times 5\times 5\times 5\times 5\times 5}{5\times 5}}$ = ${5\times 5\times 5\times 5}$ = 54
It states that when we raise an expression with an exponent to another exponent, we multiply the exponents together.
Mathematically,
For example, if we multiply 82 and 87 without using the law, the expression involves more calculations like this:
(73)4 = (7 × 7 × 7) × (7 × 7 × 7) × (7 × 7 × 7) × (7 × 7 × 7) = 712
Now, using the power rule, we get
(73)4 = 73 × 4 = 712
It states that when a product is raised to a power, the exponent is applied to each factor in the product.
Mathematically,
This rule is useful when simplifying expressions with multiple terms inside parentheses raised to a power.
For example, simplifying (ab)4 using the rule,
(ab)4 = a4b4
Now, without using the law,
(ab)4 = (ab) × (ab) × (ab) × (ab) = (a × a × a × a) × (b × b × b × b) = a4b4, which involves more steps and calculations.
It states that when a quotient is raised to a power, the exponent can be applied to both the numerator and the denominator separately.
Mathematically,
This rule is used to simplify expressions with exponents when fractions are involved.
For example,
${\dfrac{a^{2}}{b^{2}}=\left( \dfrac{a}{b}\right) ^{2}}$
However, without using the law, we get
${\dfrac{a^{2}}{b^{2}}}$ = ${\dfrac{a\times a}{b\times b}}$ = ${\left( \dfrac{a}{b}\right) \times \left( \dfrac{a}{b}\right)}$ = ${\left( \dfrac{a}{b}\right) ^{2}}$
It states that any non-zero base raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.
Mathematically,
For example,
50 = 1 or (-9)0 = 1, which shows that the rule holds for any non-zero base.
It states that any non-zero number or variable raised to the power of 1 is equal to itself.
Mathematically,
For example,
81 = 8 or b1 = b, the value remains the same as the base.
It states that a negative exponent represents the reciprocal of the base raised to the corresponding positive exponent.
Mathematically,
For example,
${2^{-5}=\left( \dfrac{1}{2}\right) ^{5}}$
The negative exponent rule is used to simplify expressions with negative exponents by converting them into fractions.
It states that a base raised to a fractional exponent is equal to the square root of the base. Mathematically,
For example,
${8^{\dfrac{2}{3}}}$ = ${\sqrt[3]{8^{2}}}$ = ${\sqrt[3]{64}}$ = 4
The fractional exponent rule is used to simplify expressions with fractional exponents by converting them into roots and powers. To better understand this, visit our Fractional Exponent article.
Use the exponent properties to evaluate the expression (25 × 33) × (24 × 32)
Given, (25 × 33) × (24 × 32)
= 25 × 33 × 24 × 32
= 25 × 24 × 33 × 32
= (25 × 24) × (33 × 32)
= 25 + 4 × 33 + 2 [∵ product law xm × xn = xm + n]
= 29 × 35
= 512 × 243
= 124416
Simplify and express the result with positive exponents:
${\left( \dfrac{x^{3}y^{2}}{x^{-2}y^{4}}\right) ^{3}}$
Given, ${\left( \dfrac{x^{3}y^{2}}{x^{-2}y^{4}}\right) ^{3}}$
= ${\left( x^{3-\left( -2\right) }\times y^{2-4}\right) ^{3}}$ [∵ quotient law ${\dfrac{x^{m}}{x^{n}}=x^{m-n}}$]
= ${\left( x^{5}y^{-2}\right) ^{3}}$
= ${\left( \dfrac{x^{5}}{y^{2}}\right) ^{3}}$ [∵ negative exponent law ${x^{-m}=\left( \dfrac{1}{x}\right) ^{m}}$]
Solve for x in the equation ${5^{4x-3}=\dfrac{25^{x}}{5}}$
Given, ${5^{4x-3}=\dfrac{25^{x}}{5}}$
⇒ ${5^{4x-3}=\dfrac{\left( 5^{2}\right) ^{x}}{5}}$
⇒ ${5^{4x-3}=\dfrac{5^{2x}}{5}}$ [∵ power of power law (xm)n = xmn]
⇒ ${5^{4x-3}=5^{2x-1}}$ [∵ quotient law ${\dfrac{x^{m}}{x^{n}}=x^{m-n}}$]
⇒ 4x – 3 = 2x – 1
⇒ 4x – 2x = 3 – 1
⇒ 2x = 2
⇒ x = 1
Use the properties of exponents to simplify the expression ${9^{-\dfrac{3}{2}}\times 27^{\dfrac{1}{3}}}$
Given, ${9^{-\dfrac{3}{2}}\times 27^{\dfrac{1}{3}}}$
= ${\left( 3^{2}\right) ^{-\dfrac{3}{2}}\times \left( 3^{3}\right) ^{\dfrac{1}{3}}}$ [∵ power of product law (xy)m = xmym]
= ${\left( 3\right) ^{-2\times \dfrac{3}{2}}\times \left( 3\right) ^{3\times \dfrac{1}{3}}}$ [∵ power of power law (xm)n = xmn]
= ${3^{-3}\times 3}$
= ${3^{-3+1}}$ [∵ product law xm × xn = xm + n]
= ${3^{-2}}$
= ${\dfrac{1}{3^{2}}}$ [∵ negative exponent law ${x^{-m}=\left( \dfrac{1}{x}\right) ^{m}}$]
= ${\dfrac{1}{9}}$
Last modified on November 22nd, 2024