The Laws of Exponents:

#1: Exponential form: The exponent of a power indicates

how many times the base multiplies itself.

n
x x x 
x xxxx
n  times

n factors of x

3
Example: 5 5 5 5
#2: Multiplying Powers: If you are multiplying Powers
with the same base, KEEP the BASE & ADD the EXPONENTS!

m n mn
x x  x
So, I get it!
When you
multiply
Powers, you 26 23 263 29
add the 512
exponents!
Try these:

𝟒
2
1. 3 3  2
=𝟑
2. 52 54  𝟔
=𝟓
𝟕
3. 5
a a  2
=𝒂
𝟗
2
4. 2 s 4 s  7
= 𝟖𝒔
𝟓
2
5. ( 3) ( 3)  3
=(−𝟑)
𝟗 𝟕
6. 2 4
s t s t  7 3
=𝒔 𝒕
#3: Dividing Powers: When dividing Powers with the
same base, KEEP the BASE & SUBTRACT the EXPONENTS!
m
x m n m n
n
 x x  x
x
So, I get it!
6
When you 2 6 2 4
divide 2
2  2
2
Powers, you
subtract the 16
exponents!
Try these:
12
s 𝟏𝟐−𝟒 𝟖
7. 4
 𝒔 = 𝒔
s
9
3 𝟗 −𝟓 𝟒
8. 5
 𝟑 = 𝟑 = 81
3
12 8
s t 𝟏𝟐−𝟒 𝟖−𝟒 𝟖 𝟒
9. 4 4
𝒔 𝒕 =𝒔 𝒕
st
5 8
36a b 𝟑𝟔 𝟓−𝟒
10.  𝟖−𝟓
4 5
4a b 𝒙𝒂 𝒃 =9a
𝟒
#4: Power of a Power: If you are raising a Power to an
exponent, you multiply the exponents!

x  m n mn
x
So, when I
take a
Power to a
power, I 3 2 32 56
(5 ) 5 5
multiply the
exponents
Try these:

1. 3   𝟑
2 5 𝟏𝟎

   𝒂𝟏𝟐
2. a 3 4

3. 2a   𝟐 𝒂
𝟑
2 3𝟐𝒙𝟑
=¿ 8
𝟒 𝟏𝟎 𝟔
4. 2 a b  𝟐 𝟐 𝒙𝟐 𝟓 𝒙𝟐 𝟑 𝒙𝟐
2 5 3 2
𝒂 𝒃 =¿𝟐 𝒂 𝒃 =¿16
2 2
5. ( 3a )  = 9

 
6. s t 2 4 3 =
#5: Product Law of Exponents: 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 
n n n
 x y
So, when I take
a Power of a
Product, I apply 2 2 2
the exponent ( ab) a b
to all factors of
the product.
#6: Quotient Law of Exponents: 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.
n n
 x x
   n
 y y
So, when I take
a Power of a
Quotient, I 4 4
apply the  2 2 16
exponent to all    4 
parts of the  3 3 81
quotient.
 SOLUTIONS
5 5
 s s
7.    5
t t
2
3 9
8.  5   34
3 
  32 8

2
 st  8 4 2

9.  4    st  s 2 8
t
   2
 rt   r  r
2
 36a b
5 8

10  4 5
 4a b
  9ab 3

  9 a b
2 2 2 32 2 6
81a b
#7: Negative Law of Exponents: If the base is powered
by the negative exponent, then the base becomes reciprocal with the
positive exponent.
m 1
x  m
So, when I have a
Negative Exponent, I x
switch the base to
its reciprocal with a
Positive Exponent.
Ha Ha! 3 1 1
5  3 
If the base with the 5 125
negative exponent is and
in the denominator,
it moves to the 1 2
numerator to lose its 2
3 9
negative sign!
3
#8: Zero Law of Exponents: Any base powered by zero
exponent equals one.
0
x 1
So zero 50 1
factors of a
and
base equals
1. That a 0 1
makes and
sense! (5a ) 0 1
Every power
has a
coefficient
of 1.
 SOLUTIONS


1. 2 a b  1
2
0

1
2 4 2
2. y y  y  2
1 y
 
3. a 5 1
 5
a
2 7 5
4. s 4s  4s
8
x
 2
5. 3 x y 
3 4
 4
 3 x y 8  12
 
81y12

  1
6. s t2 4 0
 SOLUTIONS
1 1
2 2  4 x
7.     

 x   x 4
9 2
 3  1
8.  5   3  
4 2 8
3  8
3
 3 
2
s t 
 
2 2
2 2 2 4 4
9.  4 4   s t s t
 s t  2 10
 36a 5  2  2 10 b

10.  4 5    9 a b  2
81 a
 4a b 
MODULE 4: LESSON 2
RADICALS
OBJECTIVES:
General Objective:
Write expressions with rational
exponents as radicals and vice versa.

Specific Objectives:
 Recall concepts on laws of exponents
for zero, negative integral, and rational
exponents.
 Identify expressions which are perfect
squares and perfect cubes.
 Define radical or radical expression.
 Write expressions with rational
Definition of RADICAL

Radicals are
expressions for root
extraction.

Examples like and .

Definition of RADICAL

The radical expression

read as “cube root of x”, has
index 3 and radicand x.

The symbol “ “ is the

radical sign.
Definition of RADICAL

Square roots, like and , has

index 2.

A radical expression is an
algebraic expression that involves
a variable in the radicans.

For instance, , and are

radical expressions.
 PERFECT SQUARES AND
PERFECT CUBES
The square root of a number a
is the solution of the equation
= a.

Every positive number a has

two square roots: the positive
square root, and the negative
 PERFECT SQUARES AND
PERFECT CUBES

Oftentimes, it is written as
x = ± to represent the 2 roots.
This is read as, ‘’ x equals plus
or minus the square root of a”.
Solve: = 64
x = ±
x = ±8

Solve: 4 + 16 = 0
+4 =0
=-4

-4 has no real square roots

 The cube root of a
number a is the solution
of the equation = a. It is
denoted by .

Solve: = 27
x =
x = 3
Solve: - 16 = 0
-8=0
=8
x=
x =
2
 EXPRESSIONS WITH
RATIONAL EXPONENTS

Exponents may also take

the form of fractions.

Here the laws of

exponents are applied.
 SIMPLIFYING EXPRESSIONS
WITH INTEGRAL OR
RATIONAL EXPONENTS
In the preceding sections,
where n is a positive or
negative integer or zero is
discussed.

The exponent n may also

be a fraction such as , or .
• · = =
= x
Therefore,

• · ·= =
= y
Therefore,
• =5
• = =
•
•
 Rewriting Expressions with
Rational Exponents to Radicals
and Vice Versa
From the previous section, =
a , where is used as a factor n
times.

The definition of radicals states

that = b, then = a where b
is used as a factor n times.
Rewriting Expressions with
Rational Exponents to
Radicals and Vice Versa

The two statements

suggest that, = .
• =
• = or simply
• =
• = =
• =