Author Milo Koci Unit II

Powering - term and basic properties

Powering with natural numbers as an exponent

2 = 21

2 2 = 4 = 22

2 2 2 = 8 = 23

2 2 2 2 = 16 = 24

2 2 2 = 2

0 0 = {0}

Definition 1. Power with natural exponent is number defined in following way: power to in denote we calculate
using following rules:

1 = , +1 = , 0 = 1 ( 0 , )

Here we call base and we call exponent.

Basic properties:

1) = +

2) ( ) =

3) = ( )

4) : = , , 0 , > , 0

5) = ( ) , 0 , 0, ,

2 3
Example 1. Calculate: a) (3) b) (22 )3 c) 43 47 d) 56 : 52

2 3 23 8
Solution: a) (3) = 33 = 27 b) (22 )3 = 223 = 26 = 64 c) 43 47 = 43+7 = 410 = 1048576

d) 56 : 52 = 562 = 54 = 625

Example 2. Compare numbers 230 and 320 . Which one is greater from the other?

230 = 2310 = (23 )10 = 810 320 = 3210 = (32 )10 = 910

We know that 9 > 8 so 910 > 810 230 > 320 .