Big Ideas Math: Modeling Real Life, Grade 8
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4. Zero and Negative Exponents
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Exercise 14 Page 339

What does the definition of a negative exponent say?

1/w^6

Practice makes perfect

To simplify the given exponential expression, we will use two Properties of Exponents. The first one is the Product of Powers Property.

Product of Powers Property

To multiply powers with the same base, add their exponents.

We will also use the definition of a negative exponent.

Negative Exponents

a^(- n)=1/a^n, for every nonzero number a

Let's simplify the given expression using these properties.
w^3 * w^(- 9)
w^(3 + (- 9))
w^(- 6)
1/w^6