Unit: Exponents and Polynomials Module: Understanding Exponents

An Introduction to Exponents

• Exponents: A shortcut way to write multiplication problems in which a

number multiplies with itself. The exponent tells how many times the
number is multiplying with itself.

• Powers: Another name for exponents.

Exponents are written as smaller numbers to the right

and above (superscripted) the number or variable which
they have counted.

Exponents tell you how many of the number to which they

are attached are being multiplied together.

Exponents are sometimes called “powers.”

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 Unit: Exponents and Polynomials Module: Understanding Exponents
Evaluating Exponential Expressions

• Exponents: The superscripted (or small up in the air) numbers which often
are attached to the right side of a number or variable. They indicate how
many times that number or variable is multiplied with itself. Ex., 24 = 2 · 2 ·
2 · 2.

• Exponentiation: The notation of using the superscripted numbers instead

of writing a number out however many times as a multiplication problem.

• Order of Operations: When evaluating an expression that contains more

than one operation, first check to see what must be done within
parentheses. Perform the work required by exponents next. Then do
multiplication and division working from left to right. Finally, finish up with
the addition and subtraction, again working from left to right.

Exponents tell you how many times a number is

multiplying with itself.

Note: Watch signs carefully.

In this example, you cannot assume that you are

squaring –3. You must assume that the negative is
separate from the 3 so that you will square and have
a negative answer, -9.

Does –x2 mean (-x)2 or –(x2)? It means –(x2).

The negative is added after squaring unless it is
included in parentheses.

The order in which you do arithmetic matters.

1. Always do the multiplication indicated by
exponents first.
2. Then, do the regular multiplication and division.
3. Finally, do the adding and subtracting.

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 Unit: Exponents and Polynomials Module: Understanding Exponents [Page 1 of 1]

Applying the Rules of Exponents

• Multiplying with Exponents: Add the exponents attached to the same

bases. You’re still just counting how many times a particular number is
going to multiply with itself in a particular problem.

• Base: The number or variable to which an exponent is attached.

• Grouping with Exponents: All the bases that carry the same exponent
can be written together in parenthesis with the exponent written once and
attached to the parenthesis.

• Ungrouping with Exponents: You can ungroup bases enclosed in

parenthesis with an exponent attached if you carefully apply the exponent
to each base as you remove the parenthesis. Multiply the exponents for
individual terms with the one for the whole group so that you maintain an
accurate count of how many times each base number is used in the
problem.

Multiplying with Exponents: Add exponents attached to

the same bases. You’re not yet doing any multiplication to
get an answer; you’re still just counting how many
numbers are going to multiply.
Remember: The exponent is just a shortcut for how many
times a number is multiplying with itself during a
multiplication problem.

Multiplying with Exponents: In this example, you cannot

add any exponents because they are attached to different
bases.
Since the two bases are to the same power, you can
group and multiply the bases instead.

Grouping numbers for multiplication or division is allowed

if they carry the same exponent.

To ungroup numbers, apply the exponent attached to the

parenthesis to each factor that is within the parenthesis.
Note: The outside exponent will multiply with each inside
exponent because now you are counting for each factor in
the group.

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 Unit: Exponents and Polynomials Module: Understanding Exponents [Page 1 of 1]

Evaluating Expressions with Negative Exponents

• To Divide with Exponents: Subtract the exponent for any factor in the
denominator from the exponent for the same factor in the numerator to get
the exponent for that factor in the answer.

• 0 as an Exponent: Any number to the 0 power equals 1; i.e. any a 0 = 1.

• Negative Exponents: The negative tells you that the base to which the
exponent is attached belongs in the opposite level of the fraction. When
you move the factor to the other level, the exponent becomes positive.

Dividing with exponents is a matter of subtracting the

top exponent by the bottom (or dividing) exponent.

What you are actually doing is canceling a number from

the top and the bottom with each subtraction; i.e., you are
reducing the fraction.

0 as an exponent. Any number raised to the 0 power, i.e.,

any a 0, equals 1. You can think about this fact by
considering the fraction a1/a1. On one hand, the numerator
and denominator of this fraction cancel, so the whole
fraction is equal to 1. On the other hand, by subtracting
exponents, this fraction is equal to a1-1=a0. Thus you can
see that a0 = 1.
This is true for every nonzero number a.

Negative Exponents: A negative exponent attached to a

base tells you that the base belongs in the opposite level
of the fraction. Move it there and the exponent becomes
positive.
In this example, the exponent –2 becomes +2 when the
base, (-3), moves from the numerator to the denominator.
If you wish to move a number out of the denominator, use
the same process. Change the sign of its exponent and
move it to the numerator.

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