P O T E N C I A S

3
5 = 5 x 5 x 5
 The exponent of a number says how many times to use the number in a multiplication.

Example: In 52, the "2" says to use “5” twice in a multiplication, so 52 = 5 × 5 = 25

- In words: 52 could be called "5 to the second power”, “5 to the power 2" or "5 squared".

Example: 53 = 5 × 5 x 5= 125

- In words: "5 to the third power", "5 to the power 3" or simply "5 cubed".

 Why use exponents? Is simpler and easier to write and understand.

Example: 96 is easier to write and read than 9 × 9 × 9 × 9 × 9 × 9

 What if the Exponent is 1? And if it is 0?

Example: 91 = 9 Example: 11 = 1

Example: 90 = 1 Example: 10 = 1

 What about 00? Some say is 1 and others say is possibly 0, so it’s indetermined.

 Exercise:

a) 23 – 22 = __________________________________________________________

b) 82 - 11 = __________________________________________________________

c) (60 + 61)2 = _______________________________________________________

POWERS OF 10

Power of Number Multiplication

10
100 1
101 10 10
102 100 10 x 10
103 1.000 10 x 10 x 10
104 10.000 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
105 100.000 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10
106 1.000.000 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10

And so it goes on …

Is there any difference between …

a) (2+8)2 and 22 + 82 ?

b) (2+8)2 and 102 ?

Scientific Notation:

Scientists and Engineers (who often use very big or very small numbers) like to write
numbers this way. Instead of having lots of zeros, you show how many powers of 10 will
make that many zeros.

Example 1: 5.000 = 5 × 1.000 = 5 × 103

Can you see that 103 is a handy way of making 3 zeros?