Quezon National High School

LAWS OF
EXPONENTS
• In Mathematics, there are different laws
of exponents.
• All the rules of exponents are used to solve
many mathematical problems which involve
repeated multiplication processes.
• The laws of exponents simplify the
multiplication and division operations and
help to solve the problems easily. 
What is an exponent?
Exponents are used to show repeated multiplication of a number by itself. 
An exponent tells you the number of times the base will be multiplied by itself. 

2
2 5 =5 ∙5
5
exponent
3
5 =5 ∙5 ∙ 5
b as e 4
5 =5 ∙ 5 ∙5 ∙ 5
LAWS OF EXPONENTS
𝑚 𝑛 𝑚+𝑛
1. Product of Powers 𝑎 ∙ 𝑎 =𝑎
This law states that when multiplying two powers with the same bases,
we just copy the common base and add their exponents.
3 4 3+ 4 7
Example 2 ∙ 2 =2 =2
Common base Add their exponents

Copy the common base

3 5 3+5 8
𝑥 ∙ 𝑥 =𝑥
Example =𝑥
 𝑛 𝑚𝑛
2. Power of a Power (𝑎 ¿ ¿ 𝑚) =𝑎 ¿
This law states that if a base raised to a power is being raised to
another power, the exponents are multiplied and the base remains the
same.
2 3 2( 3) 6
Example (𝑥 ) =𝑥 =𝑥

base raised to raised to

a power multiply the
another power
exponents

4 3 4( 3) 12
Example(𝑎 ) = 𝑎 =𝑎
3. Power of a Product
This law means raising each factor inside the parentheses to the given
power.
2 3 3 2 (3 ) 6
Example (2 𝑥 ) =2 ∙ 𝑥 =8 𝑥
3 4 2 2 3 (2) 4 (2) 6
Example (3 𝑥 𝑦 ) =3 ∙ 𝑥 ∙𝑦 =9 𝑥 𝑦
Remember to raise each factor inside the parentheses to the given
power.
 𝑚
𝑎
4. Quotient of Powers 𝑛
=𝑎
𝑚− 𝑛

𝑎
This law states that when dividing two powers with the same bases, we
just copy the common base and subtract their exponents.
5
Example 𝑥 5−2 3
2
=𝑥 =𝑥
Common base 𝑥
Copy the subtract their exponents
common base
3 4 3−1
12 𝑥 𝑦 12 4− 2 2 2
Example = ∙𝑥 𝑦 =4 𝑥 𝑦
3𝑥 𝑦
2
3
 ( )
𝑚 𝑚
𝑎 𝑎
5. Power of a Fraction 𝑏
= 𝑚 ;𝑏≠ 0
𝑏
This law states that when a fraction is raised to a power, both the
numerator and the denominator will be raised to the given power.

( )
3 3
Examples 𝑥 𝑥
= 3
𝑦 𝑦

( 4 𝑦 ) (4) ( 𝑦 ) 16 𝑦
2 2
3𝑥 (3) ( 𝑥)
2
9𝑥
2
=2
= 2 2 3 6
 0
6. Zero Exponent 𝑎 =1 ; 𝑎 ≠ 0
This law states that any nonzero real number raised to the power of
zero is equal to 1.
0
Examples
5 =1
2 0 2 2
8 𝑥 𝑦 =8 ∙ 𝑥 ∙ 1=8 𝑥
3
𝑥 3 −3 0
3
¿ 𝑥 =𝑥 =1
𝑥
7. Negative Exponent −𝑛 1
𝑎 = 𝑛
𝑎
We define a negative exponent as the multiplicative inverse
(reciprocal) of the base raised to the positive opposite of the power.
Examples −2 1 1
3 = 2=
3 9
−3 1
𝑦 = 3
𝑦
−5 1 4
4𝑥 =4 ∙ 5 = 5
𝑥 𝑥
 1
8. Fractional Exponent 𝑎 =√𝑎
𝑛 𝑛

When you have an expression with a fractional exponent, the

numerator of the fractional exponent becomes the power of the
expression (radicand) under the radical symbol. The denominator
of the fractional exponent becomes the index (root) of the
radical. Examples numerator
2 becomes the

𝑥 =√ 𝑥
denominator 3 3 2 power
becomes the index

base becomes
the radicand