LESSON 6.
1
EXPONENTS
Overview
Explain
Concept 1 has sections on
• Exponential Notation
• Multiplication Property
• Division Property
• Power of a Power Property
• Power of a Product
Property
• Power of a Quotient
Property
• Zero Power Property
• Using Several Properties of
Exponents
Rosa plans to invest $1000 in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).
She can invest in bonds that offer a return of 7% annually, or a riskier
stock fund that is expected to return 10% annually.
Rosa would like to know how much her money can grow in 30 years.
Exponents can help her answer this question.
In this lesson, you will study exponents and their properties.
CONCEPT 1:
PROPERTIES OF EXPONENTS
Exponential Notation
Exponents are used to indicate repeated multiplication of the same
number.
For example, we use exponential notation to write:
5  5  5  5  54
54 is read “five to the fourth power.”
In the expression 54:
• The base, 5, is the repeated factor.
• The exponent, 4, indicates the number of times the base appears as a
factor. An exponent is also called a power.
Exponent
Base 54  5  5  5  5  625


4 factors Product
LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 367
 Example 6.1.1

Find: 23
Solution
The base is 2 and the exponent is 3. 23 = 2  2  2 = 8

3 factors

Example 6.1.2

Rewrite using exponential notation: 10  10  10  10  10  10

Solution
There are six factors. Each is 10. 10  10  10  10  10  10 = 106

Therefore, the base is 10 and the
6 factors
exponent is 6.

Exponents have several properties. We will use these properties to simplify

expressions.
In the properties that follow, each variable represents a real number.

Multiplication Property
— Property —
Multiplication Property of Exponents

English To multiply two exponential expressions with the same

base, add their exponents. The base stays the same.
Algebra xm  xn  xm
n
(Here, m and n are positive integers.)
Example 54  52  54
2  5 6

Example 6.1.3

a. Use the Multiplication Property of Exponents to simplify 23  24.

b. Use the definition of exponential notation to justify your answer.
Solution
Remember to add the exponents, a. The operation is multiplication and the bases are the same.
but leave the bases alone. Therefore, add the exponents and use 2 as the base.
That is, 23  24  23
4  27, not 47.
23  24  23
4  27
Note the difference between b. Rewrite the product to show the factors. Then simplify.
23  24 and 23
24.
23  24 = (2  2  2)  (2  2  2  2) = 2  2  2  2  2  2  2 = 27
23  
24 23
4
  128
27






23
2 4  8
16  24 3 factors 4 factors 7 factors

368 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

 — Caution —
Negative Bases

A negative sign is part of the base only when the negative sign is
inside the parentheses that enclose the base.
For example, consider the following cases:
In (
3)2, the base is
3. In 32, the base is 3 .
(
3)2  (
3)  (
3) 
9 You can think of 32 as the
“opposite” of 32.
32  (3  3 )  9

Example 6.1.4

If possible, use the Multiplication Property of Exponents to simplify each

expression:
a. (2)2  (2)4 b. 22  24 c. 22  (2)4

Solution
a. In (2)2  (2)4, the base (2)2  (2)4  (2)2
4
is 2.  (2)6
 64
b. In 22  24, the base is 2. 22  24  (22)  (24)
We may think of 22  24  (22
4)
as the opposite of 22  24.  (26)
 64
c. In 22  (2)4, the base of the first factor, 22, is 2.
The base of the second factor, (2)4, is 2.
The bases are not the same, so we cannot use the Multiplication
Property of Exponents.
However, we can still evaluate
the expression. 22  (2)4  4  16  64

We can extend the Multiplication Property of Exponents to multiply more

than two factors.

Example 6.1.5

Find: 84  8  85. Leave your answer in exponential notation.

We left 810 in exponential form. To
Solution evaluate 810, use the “yx ” key on a
The bases are the same, so we can use the scientific calculator or the “^” key
Multiplication Property of Exponents. on a graphing calculator.

810  1,073,741,824
Note: 8  81 84  8  85  84  81  85  84
1
5  810

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 369

 Example 6.1.6

Find: x7  x3  x5
Solution
The operation is multiplication and
the bases are the same.
Therefore, add the exponents and x7  x3  x5  x7
3
5  x15
use x as the base.

Division Property
— Property —
Division Property of Exponents

English To divide two exponential expressions with the same base:

Compare the exponents.
• If the greater exponent is in the numerator, write the
base in the numerator.
• If the greater base is in the denominator, write the base
in the denominator.
Then subtract the smaller exponent from the greater.
Use the result as the new exponent.
Algebra Example
xm 25
  xm  n for m  n and x  0. 3  25  3  22
xn 2
xm 1 23 1 1
   for m  n and x  0. 5     2
xn xn  m 2 25  3 2
(Here, m and n are positive integers.)

Example 6.1.7
xm 1 53
Since 3  4, we use the form n  
x x
.
nm a. Use the Division Property of Exponents to find 4 .
5
b. Use the definition of exponential notation to justify your answer.
Solution
53 1 1
a. The bases are the same, 4 ¬    
5 54  3 5
so subtract the exponents.
53 555
b. Rewrite the numerator and 4 ¬ 
5 5555
denominator to show the factors.
1 1 1

5 
5 
5 1
Cancel the common factors. ¬   

5 
5 
5  5 5
1 1 1

370 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

 Example 6.1.8

Find: 79 76. Leave your answer in exponential notation.

Solution
The operation is division and the xm
79 Since 9  6, we use the form n  x m  n.
bases are the same. Therefore, subtract 79 76  6  79  6  73 x
7
the exponents and use 7 as the base.

Example 6.1.9

Find: w8 w13

Solution
The operation is division and the
w8 1 1 xm 1
bases are the same. Therefore, subtract w8 w13  13     5
13  8
Since 8  13, we use the form n  
x
.
nm
x
w w w
the exponents and use w as the base.

Power of a Power Property

— Property —
Power of a Power Property of Exponents

English To raise a power to a power, multiply the exponents.

Algebra (xm)n  xmn
(Here, m and n are positive integers.)
Example (72)4  72  4  78

Example 6.1.10

a. Use the Power of a Power Property of Exponents to simplify (52)3.

b. Use the definition of exponential notation to justify your answer.
Solution
a. To raise a power to a power, (52)3  52  3  56
multiply the exponents.
b. Rewrite each power to show the factors. Then simplify.
3
( 52 ) = ( 52 )  ( 52 )  ( 52 ) = (5  5)  (5  5)  (5  5) = 56

3 factors 6 factors

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 371

 Example 6.1.11

Simplify: (y5)3
Solution
To simplify a power of a power, (y5)3  y5  3  y15
multiply the exponents.

Power of a Product Property

— Property —
Power of a Product Property of Exponents

English To raise a product to a power, you can first raise each

factor to the power. Then multiply.
Algebra (xy)n  xnyn (Here, n is a positive integer.)
Example (2x)3  23x3  8x3

Example 6.1.12

a. Use the Power of a Product Property of Exponents to simplify (3y)2.

b. Use the definition of exponential notation to justify your answer.
Solution
a. Raise each factor to the power 2. (3y)2¬ 32y2  9y2
b. Rewrite the power to show (3y)2¬ (3y)  (3y)
the factors. Then simplify. ¬ 3  3  y  y
¬ 32y2
¬ 9y2

Example 6.1.13

Simplify: (23  w5)4

Solution
Use the Power of a Product Property
of Exponents to raise each factor inside (23  w5)4¬ (23)4(w5)4
the parentheses to the power 4.
Use the Power of a Power Property ¬ (23  4)(w5  4)
of Exponents.
We left 212 in exponential form. To Simplify. ¬ 212w20
evaluate 212, use the “yx ” key on a
scientific calculator or the “^” key
on a graphing calculator.

2 12  4096

372 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

Power of a Quotient Property
— Property —
Power of a Quotient Property of Exponents

English To raise a quotient to a power, you can first raise the

numerator and denominator each to the power. Then
divide.
n
 xy  xn
Algebra   n , y  0
y
(Here, n is a positive integer.)
4
 2x 
Example   4  
4
24
x
16
x

Example 6.1.14
3
a. Use the Power of a Quotient Property of Exponents to simplify  .  25 
b. Use the definition of exponential notation to justify your answer.
Solution
3
a. Raise the numerator to the power 3. 25 23
 3  
5
8
125
Raise the denominator to the power 3.
b. Rewrite the power to show the factors.
Then simplify.
3
   25  25  25  
222
2 2 3 8
      
5 555 5 3 125

3 factors

Zero Power Property

— Property —
Zero Power Property

English Any real number, except zero, raised to the power 0 is 1.

Algebra x0  1, x  0
Example 170  1
Here’s a way to understand why 170 is 1. This same reasoning applies no matter
what power or nonzero base we choose.
Suppose we write 0 as 2  2.
xn
Then, 170  172  2. n  xn  n  x0
x
1 1
172 1
7
17 xn
By the Division Property of Exponents, 172  2  2    1. n  1
17
17 

17 x
1 1
Therefore, x0  1 for x  0.
Since 170  172  2 and 172  2  1, we have 170  1.

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 373

 Example 6.1.15

a. Use the Zero Power Property to simplify 50.

b. Justify your answer.
Solution
a. Any real number, except zero, 50¬ 1
raised to the power 0 is 1.
53
b. Suppose we have 3 .
5
53
We can simplify this using the 3 ¬ 53  3  50
5
Division Property of Exponents.
1 1 1
53 53 5
 5
 5

But if we reduce the fraction 3 , 3 ¬   1
5 5 5
 5

5
the result is 1. 1 1 1
53
Since 3 is equivalent to both 5 0 and 1,
5
we conclude 50  1.

Example 6.1.16

Find each of the following. (Assume each variable represents a nonzero

real number).
w0
a. (7)0 b.  c. (12x4y5) 0 d. 2y0 e. 00
4
Solution
In each case, we apply the Zero Power Property: any nonzero real number
raised to the zero power is 1.
a. The base is the real number 7. (7)0¬ 1
w0 1
b. The base, w, represents a nonzero real number. ¬ 
4 4
c. The base, 12x4y5, represents a nonzero (12x4y5)0¬ 1
real number.
d. Only y is raised to the power 0. 2y0  2  1¬ 2
e. In the Zero Power Property, 00 is undefined
the base cannot be 0.

Using Several Properties of Exponents

To simplify an exponential expression, we may need to use several
properties of exponents.

374 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

 Example 6.1.17
4 3
 2 2 x 
5
Find: 
8

Solution
4 3
 2 2 x 
5
First, we simplify the expression  
8
inside the parentheses.
To combine the powers of 2, 4 3
subtract exponents.  2x 
 3 xm
Since 5  8, we use the form n  
x
.
nm
x
1

(Division Property of Exponents)

Raise the numerator and the
(x4)3
denominator each to the power 3.  33
(2 )
(Power of a Quotient Property of Exponents)
x4  3
Multiply exponents: 4  3  12 and 3  3  9.  3 
3
2
(Power of a Power Property of Exponents)
x12
 
9
2

Example 6.1.18
(x3  x5y4)3
Find: 4
2(y )
Solution
(x3  x5y4)3
First, we simplify the expression  4
2 (y )
inside the parentheses in the numerator.
To combine the powers of x ,
(x8y4)3
add their exponents.  4
2 (y )
(Multiplication Property of Exponents)
In the numerator, raise each
(x8)3(y4)3
factor to the power 3.  4
2 (y )
(Power of a Product Property of Exponents)
Multiply exponents: 8  3  24
x24y12
and 4  3 = 12 and 4  2  8.  
8 y
(Power of a Power Property of Exponents).
To combine the powers of y,
xm
subtract their exponents.  x 24y 4 Since 12 > 8, we use the form n  x m  n.
x
(Division Property of Exponents)

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 375

 Example 6.1.19
2x2(3y4)2
Find: 
56xy
Solution
2x2(3y4)2
Raise each factor inside the  
56xy
parentheses to the power 2.
2x2(3)2(y4)2
(Power of a Product Property of Exponents)  
6xy5
To simplify (y 4 )2, multiply
2x232y8
exponents: 4  2  8.  
56xy
(Power of a Power Property of Exponents)
18x2y8
Multiply the constants: 2  3 2  2  9  18  
56xy
Divide 18 by 6.
To combine the powers of x, subtract their exponents.  3xy3
To combine the powers of y, subtract their exponents.
(Division Property of Exponents)

Real world problems often involve exponents. For example, the following
formula may be used to calculate the value of an investment after a certain
number of years.
A  P(1
r) t
where A is the value of the investment,
P is the original principal invested,
r is the annual rate of return, and
t is the number of years the money is invested.

Example 6.1.20

Rosa plans to invest $1000 in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

She can invest in a bond fund that averages a 7% annual return, or in a
riskier stock fund that is expected to have a 10% annual return.
a. Determine the value of the bond fund after 30 years.
b. Determine the projected value of the stock fund after 30 years.
c. Compare the returns on the two investments.

376 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

Solution
For each investment, the principal, A  P(1
r)t
P, is $1000. The time, t, is 30 years.
a. For the bond fund, the annual rate A  1000(1
0.07)30
of return is 7%. So, r  0.07.
In the formula, substitute 1000 for P,
0.07 for r, and 30 for t.
Add 1 and 0.07.  1000(1.07)30
On a calculator, use the “yx ” key  1000(7.612255043)
or the “^” key to approximate 1.0730.
Multiply and round to the nearest  $7,612.26 To get a better estimate, we waited until
hundredth (cent). the end of the problem to round the
answer.
After 30 years, the bond fund will be worth $7,612.26.
b. For the stock fund, the projected annual A  1000(1
0.10)30
rate of return is 10%. So r  0.10.
In the formula, substitute 1000 for P,
0.10 for r, and 30 for t.
Add 1 and 0.10.  1000(1.10)30
On a calculator, use the “yx ” key or  1000(17.44940227)
the “^” key to approximate 1.1030.
Multiply and round to the nearest  $17,449.40
hundredth (cent).
After 30 years, the stock fund should be worth $17,449.40.
c. The bond fund would grow to almost 8 times its original value.
The stock fund would grow to over 17 times its original value.
The stock fund, which is riskier than the bond fund, is projected to be
worth more than twice as much as the bond fund in 30 years.

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS EXPLAIN 377

 Here is a summary of this concept from Interactive Mathematics.

378 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

 Checklist Lesson 6.1
Here is what you should know after completing this lesson.

Words and Phrases

exponential notation exponent
base power

Ideas and Procedures

❶ Exponential Notation
Given an expression written in exponential Example 6.1.1
notation, identify the base, identify the Find: 23
exponent, and evaluate the expression. See also: Example 6.1.2
❷ Properties of Exponents
Use the following properties of exponents to Example 6.1.18
simplify an expression:
(x3  x5y4)3
Multiplication Property of Exponents Find: 4
2
(y )
Division Property of Exponents
Power of a Power Property of Exponents See also: Example 6.1.3-6.1.17, 6.1.19, 6.1.20
Power of a Product Property of Exponents Apply 1-28
Power of a Quotient Property of Exponents
Zero Power Property

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS CHECKLIST 379

 Homework

Homework Problems
Circle the homework problems assigned to you by the computer, then complete them below.

7. Find:
Explain a. (b 3 )2  (b 4 )3
Properties of Exponents y6
b. 17  (y 5)2  (y 3)4
y
Use the appropriate properties of exponents to simplify
a4  b6
the expressions in questions 1 through 12. (Keep your c.  
a11  b3
answers in exponential form where possible.)
8. Find:
1. Find: (xy)4 (3b)6
a.  7 b. 
a. 32  35 b. 52  55 y x
9 2 4
(3b )
c. 72  75 9. As animals grow, they get taller faster than they get
stronger. In general, this proportion of increase in
2. Find: x2
height to increase in strength can be written as 3 .
39 35 x
a. 5 b. 9
3 3 Simplify this fraction.
39
c. 9 10. An animal is proportionally stronger the smaller it
3
is. If a person is 200 times as tall as an ant, figure
3. Find: out how much stronger a person is, pound for
2002
a. (7 3)2 b. (7 2)3 pound, by simplifying the expression 3 .
200
4. Find: 11. Find:
a. (5  x) 3 b. (3  y) 2 0
 54xxyyzz  y7  y
2
a. 23 b.  2
c. (a 2  b) 4 y y
9
4
c. 
b b
3 5
5. Find: d. 2x 0
5y 0
b b
6 3
5 2 4
 x x x   aa
 a6

3 12
a.  b.   12. Find:
4 9 7a 4 2 5
 (x x x )  (4a2)0  3b0
3
3
a.  b. 
c. 
b b 6 5 2  x5
3
d.   7 2
b b 3 8 25  x2
2 2 3 4
 (33x  3xx )   (b b b ) 
8
6. Find: c.   d.  
11 7 2 7
a. (a 2  a 3 )2
(a 2  a 3 )2
y4  3y2
b. 
8 y
c. x4  x9  x  y5  y11

380 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

 Apply

Practice Problems
Here are some additional practice problems for you to try.

Properties of Exponents 14. Find: (y 8)3

1. Find: 7 5  7 3. Leave your answer in exponential 15. Find: (z 12)4
notation.
16. Find: (x 9)4
2. Find: 6 3  6 4. Leave your answer in exponential
notation. 17. Find: (3  a) 4
3. Find: b 12  b 3 18. Find: (4  b) 2
4. Find: c 9  c 4 19. Find: (2  y) 3
5. Find: a 6  a 5 a6b5
20. Find: 82
ab
6. Find: 5 7 5 3. Leave your answer in exponential m7n4
notation. 21. Find: 3 
m n10
7. Find: 9 10 9 4. Leave your answer in exponential x3y7z12
22. Find: 8
notation. xy z5

m10
23. Find: 50
8. Find: 
4
m 24. Find: 3480
n20
9. Find: 15 25. Find: x0
n
b12 26. Find: 51
(4z)0
10. Find: 
b5
11. Find: (53)4. Leave your answer in exponential 27. Find: a0  (xyz)0
31
notation. 28. Find: 21  (3x)0
y0
12. Find: (82)5. Leave your answer in exponential
notation.
13. Find: (135)6. Leave your answer in exponential
notation.

LESSON 6.1 EXPONENTS APPLY 381

 Evaluate

Practice Test
Take this practice test to be sure that you are prepared for the final quiz in Evaluate.

1. Rewrite each expression below. Keep your answer 5. Simplify each expression below.
in exponential form where possible. a. (b 4  b 2)8
a. 11  11  11  11 b. (3 5  a 6)2
b. 3  3  y  y  y  y  y c. (2 9  x 4  y 6)11
c. 5 12  58  5 23
6. Simplify each expression below.
d. x 7  y  y 19  x 14  y 6 10 4

e. 78  b5  b8  7 10 b  53yx 
a. 
8
6
b. 
7a b 3 4
2. Rewrite each expression below in simplest form 2
5a
using exponents.
222222 7. Calculate the value of each expression below.
a. 
222 a. (4x) 0  2y 0
b 20
b. 14 b. (5xy 2  4x 3) 0
b
c. 2x 0  y 0
312  x7
c.   (4x)0 3x0 2x0
39  x16 d. 


2 2 2
y17
d.  
y  y3  y4
14 8. Rewrite each expression below using a single
x3 exponent.
3. Circle the expressions below that simplify to 5 . 5 7
 aa  aa 
y 4

x6y2 y11x5
a. 3
37 2
xy y x4 7
b. 
aa 3

xy9 x7y a a
4 5
64 46
xy xy
4. Circle the expressions below that simplify to 5y.
(31x 8) 0  5y
(5y) 0
5y2

y
(5y)2

5y
555yyyy

55yy

382 TOPIC 6 EXPONENTS AND POLYNOMIALS

Lesson 6.1 Exponents Apply - Practice Problems
Homework 1. 2xy  5xz ; 9y 2  13yz – 8z 2
1a. 37 b. 57 c. 77 3a. 76 b. 76
3a.binomial b. binomial c. trinomial d. monomial
x3 b3
5a. x8 b. a8 c. 1 d.  7a. b 18 b. y 11 c. 7 3e. trinomial
4 a

9. 1 11a. 1 1
b. 3 c. 1
d. 3 5. 8 7. 9 9. 7 11. 6 13. 84 15. 6x 2  11x – 8
x y b4

Apply - Practice Problems 17. 15m 2n 3  2m 2n 2 – 7mn 19. 15a 3b 2  4a 2b – ab 3

1. 78 3. b 15 5. a 11 7. 96 9. n 5 21. 20xy 2z 3 – 30x 2yz 2  10x 3y 3z 23. 4x 3  7x – 8

11. 512 13. 1330 15. z 48 17. 81a 4 25. y 2  6xy  4y 27. 11a 5b 3 – 4a 4b – 9b 29. 15y 5
m4
19. 8y 3 21. 6
23. 1 25. 1 27. 3 31. –45a 9 33. 28x 4y 8 35. –6w 2x 5y 3z 3
n

37. –6a 7b 7  10a 4b 5 – 12a 4b 2

Evaluate - Practice Test
1a. 114 b. 32 y 5 c. 543 d. x 21y 26 e. 718 b14 39. 20a 4b 2  10a 4b 3 – 35a 3b 4 – 15a 2b 3
33 1
2a. 2 3 b. b 6 c. 9
d. 4 41. 12x 6y 3 – 28x 4y 5  8x 4y 4 – 4x 3y 4
x y
8a 2b 3 3x 3y 2z 5 3n 5p 3
x 6y 2
3.  x 7y
and  5y 2
4. (31x 8)0
5y,  (5y ) 2
, and  43. 5a 2b 5 45.  47.  49. 
3 7
x y 4 6 x y y 5y 3c 2w 2mq
7 2 x 2z 3
51. 4a  3a 3 53.   4x 3y 55.  – 
5a. b 48 b. 310a 12 c. 299 x 44y 66 y x 2y 2
54y 40 76 a 6 b 24
6a. 4 32
b.  6 Evaluate - Practice Test
3x 5
7a. –1 b. 1 c. –3 d. 1 3 11
1. t 2 – s + 5, m 5n 4 o 3p 2r, and 5 c15 +  c – 3
7 14
1
8a. a 35 b. 
35
2. w 5 x 4 is a monomial.
a
2x 2 – 36 is a binomial.
Lesson 6.2 Polynomial Operations I 1 2 1
 x 17 +  x 12 –  is a trinomial.
3 3 3
Homework 27 is a monomial.
1. 3 1 y 3 + 3y 2 – 5 3a. –4y 5 – 2y 3 + 3y + 2 27x 3 – 2x 2y 3 is a binomial.
4
b. 5, 3, 1, 0 c. 5 5. –4v 7 + v 3 + 6v 2 – 5v + 5 x 2 + 3xy – 2 y 2 is a trinomial.
3
7. –7s 3 t 3 + 7st 2 – s 2t + 2st –13t + 9 3. 8w 8 + 7w 5 + 3w 3 – 13w 2 – 2
9. 2x 2y + 10xy 2 + 4y 3 + 3 4a. 3x 3y – 8x 2y 2 – 5y 3 + xy + y 2 + 19
11. 4w 2yz + 3w 3 – 4wyz 2 + 6wyz – 4wy 2z + 3 b. 7x 3 y – 8x 2y 2 + 3y 3 + 5xy – y 2 + 7

13. x 3 y 3 z 3 15. –3t 4u 4v 15 17. 10p 3r 4 + 5p 4r 5 5. x 8y 3w 5

3xw 5
19.  3a 3d
21.  4xy 2
23.  5x 2y 3
+ xy 2
or  (4 + 5xy) 6. 3n 3p 3 + 2n 5p 5 – 35n 2p 7
y 5 3 2b c 3 3 3
3x 4yz 6
7. 
2
3t 2u
8.  – 1 t 4
2v 2

LESSON 6.2: ANSWERS 727