Simplifying Exponential

Expressions
 Exponential Notation
Exponent
Base
Base raised to an exponent
Example: What is the base and exponent of the
following expression? 2 is the
2
7 is the
base 7 exponent
 Goal
To write simplified statements that contain
distinct bases, one whole number in the
numerator and one in the denominator,
and no negative exponents.

9 a b 
4 3 2
Ex: 1 8 4
9b c

 6a b
2 1 2 2

12
c 4a
 Multiplying Terms
When we are multiplying terms, it is easiest
to break the problem down into steps.
First multiply the number parts of all the
terms together. Then multiply the variable
parts together.
Only the z is
squared
Examples:
. .
a. ( 4x )( -5x ) = ( 4 -5 )( x x ) = -20x 2

b. (5z2)(3z)(4y) = (5.2.3.4)(y.z.z) = 120yz2

 Exploration
Evaluate the following without a calculator:
34 = 81
÷3
33 = 27
÷3
32 = 9
1
÷3
3 = 3
Describe a pattern and find the answer for:
0 ÷3
3 = 1
 Zero Power

0
a =1
Anything to
the zero Can “a” equal zero?
power is one No.
You can’t divide by 0.
 Exploration
Simplify: x x
3 4 There are 7
“x” variables

xxx  xxxx
Use the
definition of
exponents to
expand
3 4 Notice (from

x the initial
expression)
3+4 is 7!

7
x
 Product of a Power

m n
a
If you multiply
powers having the
same base, add the
exponents.
 Example
Simplify:
Add the
x  3 x  y
2 9 0

exponents
since the bases
29
 3 1
Anything
are the same
x raised to the
0 power is 1

11
3x
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:

1) x  x  x5 6

2) 2  x  z  3  x  6x
3 0 2 5

3)  9 x y 3 5
 4 x y 
2 4

 36x y 5 9
 Exploration

x 
5 The Product
Simplify: 3 of a Power
Rule says to
add all the 3s

x x x x x
3 3 3 3 3
35
Adding 3 five times is Use the

x
equivalent to multiplying
3 by 5. The same
exponents from the initial
definition of
exponents to
expand
15
x
expression!
 Power of a Power

m n
a
To find a power of a power,
multiply the exponents.
 Example
Simplify: 2s  s  t 
2 6 3 3
4t 2
Multiply the
26 33
2s s t 4t
powers of a 2
exponent
raised to

2s  s  t  4t
1
another power 12 9 2 Multiply
numbers
Any base without
112 9  2
without a
power, is
2  4s t exponents and
add the
assumed to exponents
13 11
have an
exponent of 1
8s t when the bases
are the same
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:

1)  y y2 4
8

2)  a   a   a
2 5
4 3 23

3) x  y  x  x  y
5 2 4 2 6

17
x y 11
 Exploration

 z x
The Product of
Simplify: 2 5 a Power Rule
says to add the
exponents with
the same bases

z x z x z x z x z x
2 2 2 2 2
Adding 2 five times
is equivalent to 25 5
multiplying 2 by 5
z x Use the
definition of
exponents to
Notice: Both the z2
5 10 expand
and x were raised
to the 5th power! xz
Power of a Product

a b m m

If a base has a
product, raise each
factor to the power
 Example

 3x   2xy 
Multiply the
Simplify:
2 4 5 powers of a
exponent raised to
Everything another power

 3 x  2  x y
inside the 2 2 5 5 45
parentheses is
raised to the

9 x  32  x y
exponent 2 5 20 Multiply
outside the numbers
parentheses

9  32  x
without
25 20 exponents and
y add the
exponents

288x y 7 20 when the bases

are the same
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:

1)   pqr    p q r
5 5 5 5

2)  2ab   2a 
2 4 3 5

 512a b 19 8

- 2 x  3x yz 2 4 3
3)
 54x y z 7 3 12
 First Four
1. 125x3 9. -15a5b5 16. 64x11
2. 64d6 10. r8s12 17. 256x12
3. a7b7c 11. 36z11 18. 9a8
4. 64m6n6 12. 18x5 19. 729z10
5. 100x2y2 13. 4x9 20. 321
6. -r5s5t5 14. a4b4c6 21. 108a11
7. 27b4 15. 125y12 22. -81x17
8. -4x7
 Exploration
1
55 3125 25 1/32
÷5 1 x2
54 625 24 1/16
Complete ÷5 1 x2
53 125 23 1/8
the tables ÷5 1 x2
52 25 22 ¼
(with ÷5 1 x2
51 5 ½
fractions) ÷5
21
1 x2
by finding 50 1 20 1
÷5 1
2 x2
the pattern. 5-1 1/5 2 1

5-2 ÷5 1
4 x2
1/25 2 2

5-3 1/125 ÷5 1
8 x2
2 3

5-4 1/625 ÷5 1
16 x2
2 4
 Negative Powers

1 Negative
Exponents “flip”
and become
m positive
a
1
 m
A simplified
expression has
no negative m a
exponents. a
 Example
Simplify: 10 3 4
All of the old
4a b 5a
10  4 3
4  5a
rules still apply
for negative
exponents
b This is not
6 3 simplified since

Flip ONLY the

thing with the
20a b there is a
negative
exponent
negative exponent 3
to the bottom and 20b
the exponent 6
becomes positive a
 Example
2 1
Simplify: 12 x y Everything with a
negative exponent
3
Everything with 8x is flipped and
a positive 2 3 exponent becomes
exponent stays 12 x x positive.
1
where it is. 8y
Since all of the
423 negative
12 x
exponents are
8y
4 gone, apply all
of the old rules
3 x5 to simplify.
2y
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:

1) 8 3
 1
512
2
6x

7
3x
2) 5 3 3
4x y 2y
8
3) 3 x y x 3 8 4
 x73y

4)  2a b  2
2 6
3 a
4b
 Exploration
Simplify: 10
x Since
Use the everything is
6
definition of x multiplied,
you can
x x x x x x x x x x
exponents to
expand cancel
x x x x x x common
factors

10 6
The 6 “x”s in the
denominator cancel 6
out of the 10 “x”s in the
numerator. This is the
x Only 4 “x”s
same as subtracting 4
the exponents from the
initial expression! x remain in the
numerator
 Quotient of a Power

mn
a
To find a quotient of a power,
subtract the denominator’s
exponent from the a0
numerator’s exponent if the
bases are the same.
 Example
6 1
Simplify: 2x y Subtract the
2 3 exponents of
Divide the 6x y
the similar
base
2 6 2 13 bases since
numbers first
6 x y there is division

Not simplified
1 4 2
since there is a
negative 3 x y Flip any
exponents negative
4 exponents
x
3 y2
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:
6 0
ab
 5
3
a
1) 3
5a
6

12 
12 x 3x 5
2) 12
4 xy y
9 3
14 x y 7 x6 y 2
3) 3
4x y
 2
 Exploration
6
Simplify: a
Use the  
definition of b
exponents to
expand
a
b     
a
b
a a
b b
a
b
a
b
a a a a a a
Multiply the
fractions
Use the definition of
exponents to rewrite. bbbbbb
Notice: Both the 6
numerator and a
denominator were
6
raised to the 6th power! b
 Power of a Quotient
m
a
m
b
To find a power of a quotient,
raise the denominator and
numerator to the same power.
 Example
2 3
 3   2x y 2 7

Simplify:     5 
Everything in  y  x 
2 23 73


3
the fraction is 3 2 x y
raised to the 2 53
power out side y x
2 6 21
y
 8x y
the parentheses.
Multiply the
32 x15 fractions
Subtract the 2 6 21
y 8x y
exponents
when there is 9 x15
2 21 23

division, and 8y 8y
add when there
156
is multiplication 9x 9 x9
 Practice
Simplify the following expressions:
8
 a 

3 24
1)  0  a
8
 bc  b
4
 2 x  y8
2)  2   16 x4
 y 
7
s f5
2
f 35
3) 
 zr 
4   28 14 7
  r s z