These are essential steps in this unit and should be used!!
WARNING! By Julian Collins Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #1 N -x = N x _ 1 Rule Examples 3 -2 =9 _ 1 4 -3 = 64 _ 1 5 -1 5 _ 1 = Examples A negative exponent basically means that the base is on the wrong side of the fraction line. So you need to flip the base to the other side. For instance, "x 2 ", just means "x 2 , but underneath, as in 1/(x 2 )". Explanation Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #2 N Rule 0 = 1 9 Examples 0 =1 2 0 =1 5 0 =1 2 5 = 32 2 4 = 16 2 3 = 8 2 2 = 4 2 1 = 2 2 0 = 1 3 5 = 243 3 4 = 81 3 3 = 27 3 2 = 9 3 1 = 3 3 0 = 1 10 5 = 100,000 10 4 = 10,000 10 3 = 1,000 10 2 = 100 10 1 = 10 10 0 = 1 The pattern is that at each step it is going down, You divide by the same number, either by 2, 3 or 10 (examples). This leads down to 2 0 = 1, 3 0 = 1, and 10 0 = 1. look to the patterns at the side and see the results. So you could do the same process for other numbers as in the examples above and it would work the same way. So in the end, no matter what, everything to the 0th power is 1. Explanation Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #3 N 4 . N 3 Rule = 4 N + 3 = N 7 9 Examples 2 . 9 3 = 9 2 + ++ 3 =9 5 6 4 . 6 5 = 6 4 +5 = 6 9 2 . 4 9 9 =8 9 9 + =8 18 In the rule above the exponents were added together because there was a multiplication sign. To prove that this works, you solve with both the starter equation and the rule. You will see they get the same answer. using the starter equation, 9 2 x 9 3
equals 81 x 729 which gives an answer of 59049. Now if you use the rule and add the the exponents together equaling 9 5 , you will get the same answer of 59049. This shows that it works because it has the same answer.
Now you also may be thinking that you need to multiply the whole numbers, but that is not the case. If the whole numbers are the same they cancel each other out making their value not changeable and leaving only the exponents to be altered. But if the whole numbers are not the same, then make sure they are multiplied. Explanation Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #4 N _ N = N =N 8 2 8 - 2 Rule 6 Examples 6 3 4 6 _ = 6 3 - 4 =6 -1 4 _ 4 6 7 = 4 6 7 - = 4 1 2 4 = 3 6 2 6 - 3 = 2 3 This rule is similar to the last one. Instead of adding, you subtract because if its division you subtrct. You subtract the numerators exponent from the denominators exponent. The reason this rule works is because when you solve both equations they both get the same answer. if you solve with the equation you start out with: 6 2 _ 6 1 = _ 6 36 = 6 and the rule: 6 1 = 6 6 1 _ 6 2 = the examples both have the same answer of 6. And again, the reason the two whole numbers dont get divided is because they are the same and they cancel each other out leaving the value the same. This rule does not apply to whole numbers that have a different value. If the numbers have different values then they get divided. _ Example Example Explanation Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #5 Rule (N ) 4 3 =N 4 x3 =N 12 (6 ) 3 3 = 6 3x3 = 6 12 (2 ) 4 5 = 2 4x5 = 2 20 (8 ) 9 10 = 8 9x10 = 8 90 Examples To solve this rule you have to multiply the exponents together. You do this because there is an exponent on the outside of the parenthesis, and there is one on the inside and they get multiplied together. It all makes sense because if you try the equation you start out with and then the rule you get the same answer. For the older equation solve inside of the parenthesis and then multiply by the exponent on outside, Then use the rule multiply the two exponents together and simplify. The answer will be the same. Explanation Wednesday, June 4, 14 Exponent Rule #6 Rule ( ) _ B 3 Z 2 3 10 = B 3 x 3 Y 2x 3 ____ 10 = 1000 __ B 9 _Y 6 Y 2 ( ) Z 3 2 2 = 4 Y 4 Z 6 2 2 Y x 2 Z 2 3 x = 3 2 ( ) _ X 2 Y 2 2 Z = X 2 x 2 Y 2x 2 ____ Z = Z __ X 4 _Y 4 _ 2 2 _ ( ) _ L 3 2 5 = L 2 x 3 _ = 25 __ L 6 5 2 Examples Explanation In this rule the exponent on the outside of the parenthesis distributes to the inside. Here is how it works, If there is a whole number in the parenthesis it is multiplied to what ever power is outside the parenthesis. If there is an exponent inside the parenthesis the exponent outside multiplies it, the rule is just a form of distribution. this works for any equation like the ones above, and it works for both types. Wednesday, June 4, 14 Thank you For learning.... hopefully Wednesday, June 4, 14