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Using Properties of Exponents

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Algebra 1
Exponential Functions
The properties of exponents are a set of tools that can be used to simplify expressions with exponents.
Rule

Properties of Exponents

The properties of exponents allow expressions with exponents to be rewritten.

Rule

Product of Powers Property

Rule

 am⋅an=am+na^m\cdot a^n=a^{m+n}
When powers with the same base are multiplied, they can be written as one power by adding the exponents. For example, 23⋅22,2^3 \cdot 2^2, can be expressed as follows using this rule. 23⋅22⇒23+2=25 2^3 \cdot 2^2 \Rightarrow 2^{3+2}=2^5 This rule can be explained by writing the powers as repeated multiplication.
23⋅222^3 \cdot 2^2
SplitIntoFactorsSplit into factors
(2⋅2⋅2)⋅(2⋅2)(2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2) \cdot (2 \cdot 2)
RemoveParRemove parentheses
2⋅2⋅2⋅2⋅22 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2
WritePowWrite as a power
252^5
This rule is valid for all values of mm and nn when a≠0.a\neq 0. For the rule to be true when a=0a=0 it is necessary that m,n>0.m, n> 0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when a<0a<0 and at least one of the exponents is not an integer.
Rule

Quotient of Powers Property

Rule

 aman=am−n\dfrac{a^m}{a^n}=a^{m-n}
When powers with the same base are divided, they can be written as one power where the exponent in the denominator is subtracted from the exponent in the numerator. For example, 363^6 divided by 343^4 can be rewritten using the rule as follows. 3634⇒36−4=32 \dfrac{3^6}{3^4} \Rightarrow 3^{6-4} = 3^2 This rule can be explained by writing the powers as a product.
3634\dfrac{3^6}{3^4}
SplitIntoFactorsSplit into factors
3⋅3⋅3⋅3⋅3⋅33⋅3⋅3⋅3\dfrac{3\cdot 3\cdot 3\cdot3\cdot3\cdot3}{3\cdot3\cdot3\cdot3}
CrossCommonFacCross out common factors
3⋅3⋅3⋅3⋅3⋅33⋅3⋅3⋅3\dfrac{3\cdot 3\cdot \cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}}{\cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}\cdot\cancel{3}}
SimpQuotSimplify quotient
3⋅33\cdot3
WritePowWrite as a power
323^2
This rule is valid for all values of m,m, nn and when a≠0.a\neq 0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when a<0a<0 and at least one of the exponents is not an integer.
Rule

Power of a Power Property

Rule

 (am)n=amn\left(a^m\right)^n=a^{mn}
When a power is raised to another exponent, the powers can be combined into one by multiplying them. For example (52)3\left(5^2\right)^3 can be rewritten with this rule as follows. (52)3⇒52⋅3=56 \left(5^2\right)^3 \Rightarrow 5^{2 \cdot 3} = 5^6 This rule can be explained by writing the powers as products.
(52)3\left(5^2\right)^3
a3=a⋅a⋅aa^3=a\cdot a\cdot a
52⋅52⋅525^2 \cdot 5^2 \cdot 5^2
PowToProdTwoFaca2=a⋅aa^2=a\cdot a
5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅55\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5\cdot 5
WritePowWrite as a power
565^{6}
This rule is valid for all values of mm and nn when a≠0.a\neq 0. For the rule to be true also for a=0a=0 it is necessary that both exponents are greater than 0.0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when a<0a<0 and at least one of the exponents is not an integer.
Rule

Power of a Product Property

Rule

 (ab)m=ambm(ab)^m=a^m b^m

When the base in an exponential expression is a product raised to some power, the term can be rewritten as a product of two powers. For example, (2⋅5)3\left(2\cdot 5\right)^3 can be rewritten using this rule as follows. (2⋅5)3⇒23⋅53 \left(2\cdot 5\right)^3 \Rightarrow 2^3 \cdot 5^3 This rule can be explained by writing the expression with repeated multiplication.
(2⋅5)3\left(2\cdot 5\right)^3
a3=a⋅a⋅aa^3=a\cdot a\cdot a
(2⋅5)⋅(2⋅5)⋅(2⋅5)(2\cdot 5) \cdot (2\cdot 5) \cdot (2\cdot 5)
RemoveParRemove parentheses
2⋅5⋅2⋅5⋅2⋅52\cdot 5 \cdot 2\cdot 5 \cdot 2\cdot 5
CommutativePropMultCommutative Property of Multiplication
2⋅2⋅2⋅5⋅5⋅52\cdot 2 \cdot 2\cdot 5 \cdot 5\cdot 5
ProdToPowThreeFaca⋅a⋅a=a3a\cdot a\cdot a=a^3
23⋅532^3\cdot 5^3
This rule is valid for all values of m,m, when a≠0a\neq0 and b≠0.b\neq 0. For the rule to be valid when either aa or bb equals 00 it is necessary that m>0.m>0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when at least one of the bases is less than 00 and the exponent is not an integer.
Rule

Power of a Quotient Property

Rule

 (ab)m=ambm\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^m=\dfrac{a^m}{b^m}

When the base of a power is a fraction, the term can be rewritten as a fraction of two powers. The rule states that the exponent is applied to the numerator and the denominator. For example, (65)4\left(\frac{6}{5}\right)^4 can be rewritten using this rule as follows. (65)4⇒6454 \left(\frac{6}{5}\right)^4 \Rightarrow \dfrac{6^4}{5^4} This rule can be explained by writing the power with repeated multiplication.
(65)4\left(\dfrac{6}{5}\right)^4
SplitIntoFactorsSplit into factors
65⋅65⋅65⋅65\dfrac{6}{5} \cdot \dfrac{6}{5}\cdot\dfrac{6}{5}\cdot\dfrac{6}{5}
MultFracMultiply fractions
6⋅6⋅6⋅65⋅5⋅5⋅5\dfrac{6\cdot 6\cdot6\cdot6}{5\cdot 5\cdot5\cdot5}
WritePowWrite as a power
6454\dfrac{6^4}{5^4}
For this rule to be valid it is necessary that b≠0.b\neq 0. Also, for the rule to be valid when m≤0m\leq0 it is necessary that a≠0.a\neq 0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when at least one of the bases is negative and mm is not an integer.
Rule

Negative Exponent

Rule

 a-n=1ana^{\text{-} n}=\dfrac{1}{a^n}

When an exponent of a power is negative, the term can be rewritten as a fraction, with the base in the denominator. Note that the sign of the exponent is changed. For example, 5-35^{\text{-} 3} can be rewritten with this rule as follows. 5-3⇒153\begin{gathered} 5^{\text{-} 3} \Rightarrow \dfrac{1}{5^3} \end{gathered} This rule can be explained by writing the exponent -3\text{-}3 as 4−74-7 and applying the Quotient of Powers Property.
5-35^{\text{-}3}
RewriteRewrite -3\text{-}3 as 4−74-7
54−75^{4-7}
DiffInExponentam−n=aman a^{m-n}= \dfrac{a^m}{a^n}
5457\dfrac{5^{4}}{5^{7}}
SplitIntoFactorsSplit into factors
5⋅5⋅5⋅55⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5\dfrac{5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5}{5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot5}
CrossCommonFacCross out common factors
5⋅5⋅5⋅55⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5⋅5\dfrac{\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}}{5\cdot5\cdot5\cdot\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}\cdot\cancel{5}}
SimpQuotSimplify quotient
15⋅5⋅5\dfrac{1}{5\cdot5\cdot5}
ProdToPowThreeFaca⋅a⋅a=a3a\cdot a\cdot a=a^3
153\dfrac{1}{5^3}
This rule is valid for all values of nn and when a≠0.a\neq 0. Note that the rule might lead to non-real solutions when a<0a< 0 and nn is not an integer.


Rule

Zero Exponent

Rule

 a0=1a^0=1

Powers with an exponent of 00 are equal to 1.1. This can be explained by writing an exponent of 00 as a difference, for instance 2−2,2-2, and using the Quotient of Powers Property. Consider 40.4^0.
404^0
Rewrite 00 as 2−22-2
42−24^{2-2}
DiffInExponentam−n=aman a^{m-n}= \dfrac{a^m}{a^n}
4242\dfrac{4^2}{4^2}
QuotOneaa=1\dfrac{a}{a}=1
11
This rule is valid for all values a≠0.a\neq 0.
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Exercise

Simplify the following expression using properties of exponents. 12-2⋅a0⋅b4b5 \dfrac{12^{\text{-} 2}\cdot a^0\cdot b^4}{b^5}

Show Solution
Solution
To simplify the exponents in an expression, it can be helpful to focus on either one power at a time or powers with the same base. Here, we will begin with a0.a^0. The Zero Exponent Property tells us that any base with an exponent of 00 equals 1.1.
12-2⋅a0⋅b4b5\dfrac{12^{\text{-} 2}\cdot a^0\cdot b^4}{b^5}
ExponentZeroa0=1a^0=1
12-2⋅1⋅b4b5\dfrac{12^{\text{-} 2}\cdot 1\cdot b^4}{b^5}
MultByOnea⋅1=a a \cdot 1=a
12-2⋅b4b5\dfrac{12^{\text{-} 2}\cdot b^4}{b^5}
Next, we can focus on the powers with base b.b. Notice that there is one in the numerator and one in the denominator. We can use the Quotient of Powers Property to simplify these.
12-2⋅b4b5\dfrac{12^{\text{-} 2}\cdot b^4}{b^5}
MovePartNumLefta⋅bc=a⋅bc\dfrac{a\cdot b}{c}=a\cdot\dfrac{b}{c}
12-2⋅b4b512^{\text{-} 2} \cdot \dfrac{b^4}{b^5}
DivPowaman=am−n \dfrac{a^m}{a^n}= a^{m-n}
12-2⋅b4−512^{\text{-} 2}\cdot b^{4-5}
SubTermSubtract term
12-2⋅b-112^{\text{-} 2}\cdot b^{\text{-} 1}
Lastly, we can rewrite the negative exponents using the Negative Exponent Property.
12-2⋅b-112^{\text{-} 2}\cdot b^{\text{-} 1}
NegExponentToFraca-m=1ama^{\text{-} m}=\dfrac{1}{a^m}
1122⋅1b1\dfrac{1}{12^ 2} \cdot \dfrac{1}{b^1}
ExponentOnea1=aa^1=a
1122⋅1b\dfrac{1}{12^ 2} \cdot \dfrac{1}{b}
MultFracMultiply fractions
1122⋅b\dfrac{1}{12^ 2\cdot b}
We have now completely simplified the expression. 1122⋅b \dfrac{1}{12^ 2\cdot b}
Method

Variable Exponents

The properties of exponents are not only valid for numerical exponents. They can be applied in the same way when exponents contain variables.
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Exercise

Simplify the following expression using the properties of exponents. 32y⋅35y3y \dfrac{3^{2y}\cdot 3^{5y}}{3^y}

Show Solution
Solution
To begin, we notice that each power in this expression has the same base. We will first focus on simplifying the numerator by applying the Product of Powers Property.
32y⋅35y3y\dfrac{3^{2y}\cdot 3^{5y}}{3^y}
MultPowam⋅an=am+n a^{m}\cdot{a}^{n}=a^{m+n}
32y+5y3y\dfrac{3^{2y + 5y}}{3^y}
AddTermsAdd terms
37y3y\dfrac{3^{7y}}{3^y}
We can now simplify the fraction using the Quotient of Powers Property.
37y3y\dfrac{3^{7y}}{3^y}
DivPowaman=am−n \dfrac{a^m}{a^n}= a^{m-n}
37y−y3^{7y-y}
SubTermSubtract term
36y3^{6y}
The given expression simplifies completely to 36y.3^{6y}.
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