Luttrell 2012
58
Name: ______________________
Date: _____
4b – Exponents
An exponent is a shorthand notation for multiplication. A power is an expression that uses exponents.
In the example, 5
3
= 5∙5∙5 =125, the three is the exponent and five is the base. The exponent of three says
to multiply five three times. 4
2
=16 because 4∙4 is 16.
Write the following as a product and then simplify:
1.
3
2
2.
2
4
3.
5
3
4.
10
6
5. 4
2
6. 3
3
7. 8
2
8. 4
5
9. 10
3
10. 1
10
11. 0
2
12. (- 4)
2
13. (-3)
4
14. (-2)
3
15. (-3)
5
16. 4
0
Please note that anything with a zero in the exponent is reduced to equal 1.
Negative exponents are first simplified by making them positive. By definition they mean to reciprocate
the value.
17. 10
–2
= 1/10
2
= 1/100
18. 2
–4
= 1/2
4
= 1/16
19. 3
–3
20. 4
–2
21. 3
3
−
22. 2
5
−
23. 6
3
−
24. 10
5
−
