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Amy Ferguson Moncure

H Algebra 2/Trig · Unit 1

Simplify Exponents

Multiply, divide, and raise powers. Put coefficients together, then apply the exponent rules.

Jump to section:

x² · x³ = x⁵

(x²)3 = x⁶

What to Remember

Product rule

Same base, multiply: add the exponents.

am · an = am + n

Quotient rule

Same base, divide: subtract the exponents.

aman = am − n

Power rule

A power raised to a power: multiply the exponents.

(am)n = amn

Coefficients and signs

Put numbers together and matching bases together. A negative base to an even power is positive. A negative base to an odd power stays negative.

Level 1

Easy

One rule. Keep the same base.

Example
Simplify. x⁴ · x⁷

The formula is

am · an = am + n

Same base, so add the exponents.

x⁴ · x⁷ = x4+7

x¹¹

Answer: x¹¹

1
Simplify. y³ · y⁸
Show Answer

The formula is

am · an = am + n

Same base, so add the exponents.

y³ · y⁸ = y3+8

y¹¹

Answer: y¹¹

2
Simplify. z⁵ · z²
Show Answer

The formula is

am · an = am + n

Same base, so add the exponents.

z⁵ · z² = z5+2

z⁷

Answer: z⁷

3
Simplify. (a³)4
Show Answer

The formula is

(am)n = amn

A power raised to a power: multiply the exponents.

(a³)4 = a3 × 4

a¹²

Answer: a¹²

4
Simplify. m¹⁰m⁴
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The formula is

aman = am − n

Same base, so subtract the exponents.

m¹⁰m⁴ = m10−4

m⁶

Answer: m⁶

5
Simplify. w⁸w²
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The formula is

aman = am − n

Same base, so subtract the exponents.

w⁸w² = w8−2

w⁶

Answer: w⁶

Level 2

Medium

Coefficients: numbers together, matching bases together.

Example
Simplify. 5x³ · 2x⁴

Use the commutative property: numbers together, matching bases together.

5x³ · 2x⁴ = 5 · 2 · x³ · x⁴

5 · 2 = 10

The formula is

am · an = am + n

x³ · x⁴ = x3+4

10x⁷

Answer: 10x⁷

1
Simplify. 6y² · 4y⁵
Show Answer

Use the commutative property: numbers together, matching bases together.

6y² · 4y⁵ = 6 · 4 · y² · y⁵

6 · 4 = 24

The formula is

am · an = am + n

y² · y⁵ = y2+5

24y⁷

Answer: 24y⁷

2
Simplify. 3z⁷ · 5z
Show Answer

Use the commutative property: numbers together, matching bases together.

3z⁷ · 5z = 3 · 5 · z⁷ · z¹

3 · 5 = 15

The formula is

am · an = am + n

z⁷ · z¹ = z7+1

15z⁸

Answer: 15z⁸

3
Simplify. 36a¹⁰6a⁴
Show Answer

Coefficients together. Matching bases together.

36a¹⁰6a⁴

366 = 6

The formula is

aman = am − n

a¹⁰a⁴ = a10−4

6a⁶

Answer: 6a⁶

4
Simplify. 8b¹⁵24b⁵
Show Answer

Coefficients together. Matching bases together.

8b¹⁵24b⁵

824 = 13

The formula is

aman = am − n

b¹⁵b⁵ = b15−5

b¹⁰3

Answer: b¹⁰3

5
Simplify. 20x⁹4x³
Show Answer

Coefficients together. Matching bases together.

20x⁹4x³

204 = 5

The formula is

aman = am − n

x⁹x³ = x9−3

5x⁶

Answer: 5x⁶

Level 3

Hard

A product raised to a power, including a negative coefficient.

Example
Simplify. (−2x⁵)3

The formula is

(ab)n = anbn

(−2x⁵)3

(−2)3 = −8

The formula is

(am)n = amn

(x⁵)3 = x5 × 3

−8x¹⁵

Answer: −8x¹⁵

1
Simplify. (−4y³)2
Show Answer

The formula is

(ab)n = anbn

(−4y³)2

(−4)2 = 16

The formula is

(am)n = amn

(y³)2 = y3 × 2

16y⁶

Answer: 16y⁶

2
Simplify. (−5z⁴)3
Show Answer

The formula is

(ab)n = anbn

(−5z⁴)3

(−5)3 = −125

The formula is

(am)n = amn

(z⁴)3 = z4 × 3

−125z¹²

Answer: −125z¹²

3
Simplify. (−2a⁶)4
Show Answer

The formula is

(ab)n = anbn

(−2a⁶)4

(−2)4 = 16

The formula is

(am)n = amn

(a⁶)4 = a6 × 4

16a²⁴

Answer: 16a²⁴

4
Simplify. (−3w²)2
Show Answer

The formula is

(ab)n = anbn

(−3w²)2

(−3)2 = 9

The formula is

(am)n = amn

(w²)2 = w2 × 2

9w⁴

Answer: 9w⁴

5
Simplify. 2x³ · (−3x⁴)
Show Answer

Use the commutative property: numbers together, matching bases together.

2x³ · −3x⁴ = 2 · −3 · x³ · x⁴

2 · −3 = −6

The formula is

am · an = am + n

x³ · x⁴ = x3+4

−6x⁷

Answer: −6x⁷

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