Bell Work:

• Evaluate each expression:

• 1. 42
• 2. (-2)3
• 3. (1/2)3
• 4. 2 * 1.053

• 5. 34 * 33
 Answers:
• 1. 16
• 2. -8
• 3. 1/8
• 4. 2.205
• 5. 2187
 8.2 – Zero and Negative Exponents

Goal:

I can evaluate powers that

have zero and negative
exponents.
 Zero and Negative Exponents
Zero and negative exponents are too easy.

DEFINITION OF NEGATIVE EXPONENTS

a-n is the reciprocal of an.

n 1
a  n , where a is not equal to 0.
a

What this really means is that you turn a negative exponent

into a positive exponent by shifting the power from
numerator to denominator or vice versa!
 Example
What this really means is that you turn a negative exponent
into a positive exponent by shifting the power from
numerator to denominator or vice versa!

21 1
2  2 
2 4

31 1
4  3
4 64
Important – only move the base number and the negative exponent
that goes with it!
 Examples

a. 3-4 = b. 4-y =

1
c. 3 d. 0-1 =
 
5
 Zero and Negative Exponents
Zero and negative exponents are too easy.

DEFINITION OF ZERO EXPONENTS

A nonzero number to the zero power has the value
of ONE. ANY NUMBER (except zero!) RAISED TO
THE ZERO POWER IS ONE!!!!
a0 = 1, where a is not equal to 0. 970 = 1
50 = 1 1000 = 1
-40 = 1 80 = 1
-90 = 1 7650 = 1 3000 = 1 -220 = 1
19870 = 1 1,000,0000 = 1 22.8790 = 1
1,5670 =1
 More Examples – Rewrite with positive
exponents. Assume k is positive.

3 4
a. 4(3-k) = b. 5g  h
 More Examples –
Evaluate the Expression
3
a.
4 4 3 b. (5-2)-3 =

c. 2-3 =
 Examples – Rewrite with positive exponents.
Assume n is positive.

a. (4y)-3 = b. 1
2n
g
 How do you graph an exponential function?
To sketch the graph of y = 2x, make a table of values that
includes negative x values……

x -2 -1 0 1 2 3
2x

Next, plot the points on a coordinate plane. What do you

notice about the graph?

Safety tips….. Use integer values for x. Base number should always
be greater than zero (in this class). In real life applications, x is usally
the time period.
 Review

Assignment:
Page 459
14 - 48 even