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Key equations

Rules of Exponents
For nonzero real numbers a and b and integers m and n
Product rule a m a n = a m + n
Quotient rule a m a n = a m n
Power rule ( a m ) n = a m n
Zero exponent rule a 0 = 1
Negative rule a n = 1 a n
Power of a product rule ( a b ) n = a n b n
Power of a quotient rule ( a b ) n = a n b n

Key concepts

  • Products of exponential expressions with the same base can be simplified by adding exponents. See [link] .
  • Quotients of exponential expressions with the same base can be simplified by subtracting exponents. See [link] .
  • Powers of exponential expressions with the same base can be simplified by multiplying exponents. See [link] .
  • An expression with exponent zero is defined as 1. See [link] .
  • An expression with a negative exponent is defined as a reciprocal. See [link] and [link] .
  • The power of a product of factors is the same as the product of the powers of the same factors. See [link] .
  • The power of a quotient of factors is the same as the quotient of the powers of the same factors. See [link] .
  • The rules for exponential expressions can be combined to simplify more complicated expressions. See [link] .
  • Scientific notation uses powers of 10 to simplify very large or very small numbers. See [link] and [link] .
  • Scientific notation may be used to simplify calculations with very large or very small numbers. See [link] and [link] .

Section exercises

Verbal

Is 2 3 the same as 3 2 ? Explain.

No, the two expressions are not the same. An exponent tells how many times you multiply the base. So 2 3 is the same as 2 × 2 × 2 , which is 8. 3 2 is the same as 3 × 3 , which is 9.

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When can you add two exponents?

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What is the purpose of scientific notation?

It is a method of writing very small and very large numbers.

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Explain what a negative exponent does.

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Numeric

For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. Write answers with positive exponents.

For the following exercises, write each expression with a single base. Do not simplify further. Write answers with positive exponents.

4 2 × 4 3 ÷ 4 −4

4 9

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( 12 3 × 12 ) 10

12 40

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7 −6 × 7 −3

1 7 9

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For the following exercises, express the decimal in scientific notation.

0.0000314

3.14 × 10 5

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For the following exercises, convert each number in scientific notation to standard notation.

1.6 × 10 10

16,000,000,000

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Algebraic

For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. Write answers with positive exponents.

a b 2 ÷ d −3

a b 2 d 3

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p −4 q 2 p 2 q −3

q 5 p 6

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( y 7 ) 3 ÷ x 14

y 21 x 14

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( 9 z 3 ) −2 y

y 81 z 6

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Real-world applications

To reach escape velocity, a rocket must travel at the rate of 2.2 × 10 6 ft/min. Rewrite the rate in standard notation.

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A dime is the thinnest coin in U.S. currency. A dime’s thickness measures 2.2 × 10 6 m. Rewrite the number in standard notation.

0.00135 m

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The average distance between Earth and the Sun is 92,960,000 mi. Rewrite the distance using scientific notation.

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A terabyte is made of approximately 1,099,500,000,000 bytes. Rewrite in scientific notation.

1.0995 × 10 12

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The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the United States in the first quarter of 2014 was $ 1.71496 × 10 13 . Rewrite the GDP in standard notation.

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One picometer is approximately 3.397 × 10 −11 in. Rewrite this length using standard notation.

0.00000000003397 in.

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The value of the services sector of the U.S. economy in the first quarter of 2012 was $10,633.6 billion. Rewrite this amount in scientific notation.

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Technology

For the following exercises, use a graphing calculator to simplify. Round the answers to the nearest hundredth.

( 12 3 m 33 4 −3 ) 2

12,230,590,464 m 66

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Extensions

For the following exercises, simplify the given expression. Write answers with positive exponents.

( 3 2 a 3 ) −2 ( a 4 2 2 ) 2

a 14 1296

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( 6 2 −24 ) 2 ÷ ( x y ) −5

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m 2 n 3 a 2 c −3 a −7 n −2 m 2 c 4

n a 9 c

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( x 6 y 3 x 3 y −3 y −7 x −3 ) 10

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( ( a b 2 c ) −3 b −3 ) 2

1 a 6 b 6 c 6

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Avogadro’s constant is used to calculate the number of particles in a mole. A mole is a basic unit in chemistry to measure the amount of a substance. The constant is 6.0221413 × 10 23 . Write Avogadro’s constant in standard notation.

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Planck’s constant is an important unit of measure in quantum physics. It describes the relationship between energy and frequency. The constant is written as 6.62606957 × 10 −34 . Write Planck’s constant in standard notation.

0.000000000000000000000000000000000662606957

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Questions & Answers

how does the planets on our solar system orbit
cheten Reply
how many Messier objects are there in space
satish Reply
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Richard Reply
what are astronomy
Issan Reply
Astronomy (from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomía) 'science that studies the laws of the stars') is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution.
Rafael
vjuvu
Elgoog
what is big bang theory?
Rosemary
what type of activity astronomer do?
Rosemary
No
Richard
the big bang theory is a theory which states that all matter was compressed together in one place the matter got so unstable it exploded releasing All its contents in the form of hydrogen
Roaul
I want to be an astronomer. That's my dream
Astrit
Who named the the whole galaxy?
Shola Reply
solar Univers
GPOWER
what is space
Richard
what is the dark matter
Richard
what are the factors upon which the atmosphere is stratified
Nicholas Reply
is the big bang the sun
Folakemi Reply
no
Sokak
bigbang is the beginning of the universe
Sokak
but thats just a theory
Sokak
nothing will happen, don't worry brother.
Vansh
what does comet means
GANGAIN Reply
these are Rocky substances between mars and jupiter
GANGAIN
Comets are cosmic snowballs of frozen gases , rock and dust that orbit the sun. They are mostly found between the orbits of Venus and Mercury.
Aarya
hllo
John
hi
John
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John
r u there
John
hey can anyone guide me abt international astronomy olympiad
sahil
how can we learn right and true ?
Govinda Reply
why the moon is always appear in an elliptical shape
Gatjuol Reply
Because when astroid hit the Earth then a piece of elliptical shape of the earth was separated which is now called moon.
Hemen
what's see level?
lidiya Reply
Did you mean eye sight or sea level
Minal
oh sorry it's sea level
lidiya
according to the theory of astronomers why the moon is always appear in an elliptical orbit?
Gatjuol
hi !!! I am new in astronomy.... I have so many questions in mind .... all of scientists of the word they just give opinion only. but they never think true or false ... i respect all of them... I believes whole universe depending on true ...থিউরি
Govinda
hello
Jackson
hi
Elyana
we're all stars and galaxies a part of sun. how can science prove thx with respect old ancient times picture or books..or anything with respect to present time .but we r a part of that universe
w astronomy and cosmology!
Michele
another theory of universe except big ban
Albash Reply
how was universe born
Asmit Reply
there many theory to born universe but what is the reality of big bang theory to born universe
Asmit
what is the exact value of π?
Nagalakshmi
by big bang
universal
there are many theories regarding this it's on you believe any theory that you think is true ex. eternal inflation theory, oscillation model theory, multiple universe theory the big bang theory etc.
Aarya
I think after Big Bang!
Michele
from where on earth could u observe all the stars during the during the course of an year
Karuna Reply
I think it couldn't possible on earth
Nagalakshmi
in this time i don't Know
Michele
is that so. the question was in the end of this chapter
Karuna
in theory, you could see them all from the equator (though over the course of a year, not at pne time). stars are measured in "declination", which is how far N or S of the equator (90* to -90*). Polaris is the North star, and is ALMOST 90* (+89*). So it would just barely creep over the horizon.
Christopher
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Source:  OpenStax, College algebra. OpenStax CNX. Feb 06, 2015 Download for free at https://legacy.cnx.org/content/col11759/1.3
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