Unit 2: Powers and Roots.

ACTIVITIES 1

Mathematics - 3 ESO

Unit 2: Powers and Roots

What is the current world population? What is the diameter of an atom? What is the diameter of a galaxy? What is the wavelength of an x-ray? What is the current national federal debt? All these questions have answers that may involve either very large numbers or very small numbers. One way to accurately represent such numbers is with scientific notation. In this unit, we will study how to use scientific notation when answering questions such as those posed above. Working with very large and very small numbers involves knowing how to use powers. Because of that, it is compulsory to study the rules of exponents before explaining how to use scientific notation. In addition to that knowledge related to powers, we will have the opportunity in this unit to discover how the relation between powers and roots works.

1. Integer Number Exponents

A compact method of writing in exponential or index notation. is

. The expression

is written

Exponential notation can be used to express the product of any expression that is used repeatedly as a factor.

1.1

Definition of Natural Number Exponents

If b is any rational number and n is a natural number, then

where b is the base and n is the exponent. Examples: IES Albayzn (Granada) Pgina 1

Unit 2: Powers and Roots. ACTIVITIES 1

Mathematics - 3 ESO

( )

( (

) (

) (

) (

)
(the base is 5) and

Pay close attention to the difference between

) (the base is -5).

We can extend the definition of an exponent to all the integers but we have to take into account: The properties of natural number exponents, specially: where The essential idea of being coherent

We first deal with the case of zero as an exponent.

1.2

Definition of
For any nonzero rational number Note that if we want to extend the properties of natural number exponents to integers exponents, and to be mathematically coherent, then has to be equal to 1:

Now we extend the definition to include negative integers.

1.3

Definition of
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IES Albayzn (Granada)

Unit 2: Powers and Roots. ACTIVITIES 1

Mathematics - 3 ESO

If

and n is a natural number, then

and

This property is explained by the same reasons we have pointed out in the above section.

1.4

Properties of Integer Number Exponents

If m, n are integers and a, b are rational numbers, then

Product: multiplying terms with the same base. (Add the exponents on the like bases and recall )

Quotient: Dividing terms with the same base. (Subtract the exponents on the like bases and recall )

Power: Raising one Power to Another. (Multiply the exponents)

Raising a Product to a Power Distribute that power through to each term in the product

Raising a Quotient to a Power Distribute that power over each term in the quotient

( )

Exercise 1

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Pgina 3

Unit 2: Powers and Roots. ACTIVITIES 1

Mathematics - 3 ESO

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4 IES Albayzn (Granada) Pgina 4

Unit 2: Powers and Roots. ACTIVITIES 1

Mathematics - 3 ESO

IES Albayzn (Granada)

Pgina 5