Algebra 2A Unit 2 Lesson 3: Properties of Rational Exponents

Product of a power property:

When you have common bases that are multiplied together, you can add the exponents together and
keep the base
Ex. 3 3 = 3 = 3 and

 =
 =

Why this works:

Remember, that when you have   it equals    . So, if you expand:
    =       
The Associative Property of Multiplication allows us to change the grouping (parentheses) of the
numbers when we are multiplying. So, that means that I can even remove the parentheses:
       =       
Since there are seven xs being multiplied, we can see that     =   !

Quotient of a Power Property:

When you divide two numbers with the same base, you can subtract their exponents to simplify


Ex.  =  = 

and




= 6  = 6 =  = 

Why this works:



Remember, whenever you have  or  it will equal 1.

     
=




Since we have , we can simplify the fraction:

1 1 1
 111
=
=   = 

1
So, that means that




=   =   !

Algebra 2A Unit 2 Lesson 3: Properties of Rational Exponents

Power of a power property:
When you have a base that is raised to a power and then that value is raised to a power again, you can
find the answer by multiplying the two exponents together
Ex. 6  = 6  = 6

and

2  = 2  = 2

Hint: Look closely at the exponent level. When you have 6  , it looks like the
exponent level has the exponent side-by-side. Normally, when you see two numbers
side-by-side and just separated by parentheses, you multiply them. This will be the
same.

Why this works:

Lets say you have    . The to the third power that is outside the parentheses means that you raise
the x2 to the third power:
   =       
When we expand the x2, we get:
       =    
Again, our Associative Property of Multiplication allows us to move (or remove) the parentheses when
we are multiplying, so we get:
    =      
Since there are six xs being multiplied, we can write the answer as x6, which means    =   =   !

Negative exponent property:

When you have a base raised to a negative exponent, you can flip the base and turn the exponent
positive


Ex. 4 = !

and

5 = 

and

 

# $

 

= # $

Algebra 2A Unit 2 Lesson 3: Properties of Rational Exponents

Rational exponent property:
Any radical can be represented as an exponent, using the index of the radical as the denominator of a
fractional exponent.


Ex. %
=


and

'  = ' 

Note: When the index of a radical is invisible, the index is actually 2, not 1. This is because a
radical with an invisible index is the square root (which undoes raising something to the second


 =  !

power).

Why this works:

The reason the Rational Exponent Property works is because if you have:


%


The cube root will undo the to the third power, leaving you with just y.


%
 =

Remember that y is also the same thing as y1. If we were to re-write the equation using exponents
instead of radicals, it would be:

  =

The number that goes inside the box will represent the radical. Using the Power of a Power Property, we
know that when you raise a power to a power, you have to multiply the exponents.

 ___ =



So the number that goes in that blank must be , since 3 *  = 1. That is why the Rational Exponent
Property works!

Algebra 2A Unit 2 Lesson 3: Properties of Rational Exponents

Here is an example of how to use the properties:
Simplify:
(

%9 +

Apply the Power of a Power Property:

(

%9+  = %9+ 

Apply the Rational Exponent Property:

(

%9+  = 9

+


Simplify the fraction:

9

+


= 9+

Note: These properties can technically be applied in whatever order wanted. I could have just as easily
applied the Rational Exponent Property before doing the Power of a Power Property.