Negative Exponents

Oh Joy!

Nick Hershman

Class/Subject

2009-2010
Overview

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman I realize that may not seem funny.

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”

– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman I realize that may not seem funny. It isn’t.

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Positive Exponents

A power consists of two parts: baseexponent .

For example:

x3

(2x)3
e iπ

A number or variable without an exponent is still a power.

Unwritten exponents are understood to be 1.

4g = 41 g 1

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 3/6
Negative exponents−4 don’t come from storks.

28
= 23
25
So, it would follow that

25
= 20 = 1
25
And also that:

25 1
8
= 2−3 or 3
2 2

Nick Hershman (Math

c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 4/6
NEVER DO THIS

23 · 32 = 65
Or this.

2−3 = −8
In fact:
23 · 32 = 23 32
8 · 9 = 72 65 = 7776
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 5/6
 2 −3 42
4 ·2 = 3
2

16 2 −3
= 4 x
x3

3x 3 x8
−5
=
9x 3
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 6/6