INTEGER AND

LAWS OF EXPONENTS

Exponents

exponent

Power

base
Example: 125 5 means that 5 is the exponential
3

form of the number 125.

53 means 3 factors of 5 or 5 x 5 x 5

#1: Product of Powers:

If you are multiplying Powers

with the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS.

x x x
m

So, I get it! When

you multiply
Powers, you add
the exponents!

mn

2 6 23 2 63 29
512

#2: Quotient of Powers: When dividing Powers with the

same base, KEEP the BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!

x
m
n
mn

x
n
x
So, I get it!
When you divide
Powers, you
subtract the
exponents!

26
6 2
4

2
22
16

#3: Power of a Power: If you are raising a Power to an

exponent, you multiply the exponents!

x
m

So, when I take a

Power to a power,
I multiply the
exponents

mn

( 5 3 ) 2 5 3 2 5 6

#4: Power of a Product: If the product of the bases is

powered by the same exponent, then the result is a multiplication of
individual factors of the product, each powered by the given exponent.

xy
So, when I take a
Power of a Product, I
apply the exponent to
all factors of the
product.

x y
n

( ab ) 2 a 2 b 2

#5: Power of a Quotient: If the quotient of the

bases is powered by the same exponent, then the result is both
numerator and denominator , each powered by the given exponent.

y
So, when I take a
Power of a Quotient, I
apply the exponent to
all parts of the
quotient.

n
y
4

16
2 2
4
81
3 3

ZERO AND NEGATIVE

EXPONENTS

#1: Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by

zero exponent equals one.

x 1
0

1
and

1
and

(5 a ) 0 1

#2: Negative Law of Exponents: If the base is

powered by the negative exponent, then the base becomes reciprocal
with the positive exponent.

So, when I have a

Negative Exponent, I
switch the base to its
reciprocal with a
Positive Exponent.
If the base with the
negative exponent is in
the denominator, it
moves to the
numerator to lose its
negative sign!

1
m
x
5

1
1
3
5
125

and
1
2

3
9
2
3

RATIONAL EXPONENTS
AND RADICALS

Preliminaries

Example :
144 12
144 12
144 12

Preliminaries

Preliminaries

Let a and x, y , u , v where y and v

cannot be zero. Applying the Laws of Exponents,
the following are true:
a.)

b.)

x
y

u
v

a a

a
a

x
y
u
v

c. )

d.)

x
y

1
u

xy
a

x
e.)
y

Examples:
1
3

1
4

1.)2 2

2.)

3
3

2
5
1
2

3.) 5

4.) 5

3
5

6
11

50

1
24

Expressing Exponential Form with Rational

Exponents to Radical Form and Vice Versa
Let m and n be natural numbers where n>1. If
a is a real number such that n m exist,
a
then,

m
n

a
n

Illustrations:
3
7

4.) ( x 2)
9

1.)2
2.)16

3
10

1
3.)
27

5.) 16 x
6

1
6

18

20

16

6.) 81x y z
`12

Laws of Radicals

Laws of Radicals

Simplifying Radicals
Simplified radicals have the following properties:
(a) The radicand has no factor raised to a power greater than or
equal to the index.
(b) Exponents in the radicand and the index of the radical have no
common factor
(c) There are no radicals in the denominator.
(d) There are no fractions in the radicand.

Simplifying Radicals
(a) The radicand has no factor raised to a power greater than
or equal to the index. (Removing the perfect nth power)

Simplifying Radicals
(b) Exponents in the radicand and the index of the radical have
no common factor (reducing the index to lowest order)

Simplifying Radicals
(c) There are no radicals in the denominator.
(d) There are no fractions in the radicand
(Rationalization)

OPERATIONS
ON
RADICALS

Addition and Subtraction of Radicals

Multiplication and Division of Radicals

Perform the indicated operations.

Multiplication and Division of Radicals

EXAMPLES

Multiplication and Division of Radicals