ZERO

& N E G AT I V E
INTEGRAL
EXPONENTS
OBJECTIVES

▪ Recall the laws involving positive integral exponents

▪ Apply the laws involving positive integral exponents
to zero and negative integral exponents
▪ Recognize how the laws involving positive integral
exponents are used in expressions with zero and/or
negative integral exponents through application
A C T I V I T Y 1 : Evaluate.
2
2 3 2 3
1 2 5 33 8  
4
3
2 3
6 (2 3) 3
9 3 0

3 ( −2 ) 4

4
4
(2 )
3 −1
2
4 7
4 2
10 3
A C T I V I T Y 2 : Solve.

The speed of light is approximately 3 x 108 meters

per second. If it takes 5 x 102 seconds for light to
travel from the sun to the earth, what is the distance
between the sun and the earth?

Questions
a. How did you solve the given problem?
b. What concepts have you applied?
CA N YO U G I V E T H E M AT H E M AT I CA L L AWS O R PRO PE R T I E S
I N VO LV E D I N E VA L UAT I N G E AC H E X PR E S S I O N ?

2
1 2
3
2 3

3 ( −2 ) 4
CA N YO U G I V E T H E M AT H E M AT I CA L L AWS O R PRO PE R T I E S
I N VO LV E D I N E VA L UAT I N G E AC H E X PR E S S I O N ?

(2 ) (a )
3 m n
4
2
=amn

3 2 m +n
5 33 a a =a
m n
CA N YO U G I V E T H E M AT H E M AT I CA L L AWS O R PRO PE R T I E S
I N VO LV E D I N E VA L UAT I N G E AC H E X PR E S S I O N ?

(2 3) ( ab ) = a b
3 m m m
6

4
4 a m
m −n
7
2 n
= a
4 a
CA N YO U G I V E T H E M AT H E M AT I CA L L AWS O R PRO PE R T I E S
I N VO LV E D I N E VA L UAT I N G E AC H E X PR E S S I O N ?

2
3
m
a
m
a
8     = m
4 b b
 T H E L AW S
OF
EXPONENTS
 𝑎𝑚
We know that = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 if a ≠ 0 and m > n. Suppose we want this law
𝑎𝑛
𝑎𝑚
to hold even when m = n. Then, = 𝑎𝑚−𝑚 = 𝑎0 , a ≠ 0. But we also
𝑎𝑚
𝑎𝑚
know that = 1. Thus, we define 𝑎 0 = 1, a ≠ 0.
𝑎𝑚

9 3 =1
0
 𝑎𝑚
We know that = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 if a ≠ 0 and m > n. Suppose we want this law
𝑎𝑛
𝑎0
to hold even when m < n. Then, = 𝑎0−𝑛 = 𝑎−𝑛 , a ≠ 0. But we also
𝑎𝑛
𝑎0 1 1
know that = . Thus, we define 𝑎 −𝑛 = ,a ≠ 0.
𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑛

−1 1
10 3 =
3
A C T I V I T Y 3 : Rewrite all expressions without
using zero or negative exponent.
0

1
1
  4
3 −3
( −2 ) −5
7 ( 8o p q)
4 2 0

x 6 −1

 1 
−3
a b −3 11 8 d−8
(100xy ) 0

2   5
 4m  c −5
−2 −4
9 −3m np
1
3
5 −2 6 ( 3xy ) 2 −2
10 8x y z2 0 −1
A C T I V I T Y 4 : Rewrite all expressions without
using zero or negative exponent.

5
6e + (11f ) − 0 (3 )
−3 −1
0 −4
+5
0
1 4
g

5 ( 2a b )
−1 3 0 −2
 3x y z −4 −5 −2
2 3  2 −8 −9 
−5 6 −8
10c d e  9x y z 