5.1 Use Properties of Exponents

Goal Simplify expressions involving powers.

Your Notes

VOCABULARY

Scientific notation

A number is expressed in scientific notation if it is in the form c10n where 1 c< 10 and n is an integer.

PROPERTIES OF EXPONENTS

Let a and b be real numbers and let m and n be integers.

Product of Powers Propertyam an = a__m + n__

Power of a Power Property(am)n = a__mn__

Power of a Product Property(ab)m =a _m_ b_m_

Negative Exponent Property

Zero Exponent Propertya0 = _1_ ,a 

Quotient of Powers Property

Power of a Quotient Property

Example 1

Evaluate numerical expressions

a.(62)3 = 6 2 3 = 6 6= _46,656_

b.

c.

Your Notes

Example 2

Use scientific notation in real life

Iceland Iceland covers about 1.03  105 square kilometers and has approximately 2.94  105 people. About how many people are there per square kilometer?

Solution

Divide population by land area.

Quotient of powers property

Use a calculator.

= _2.85_Zero exponent property

There are about _3_ people per square kilometer.

Example 3

Simplify expressions

/ Power of a product property
/ Power of a power property
=_x1515 y68_ / Quotient of powers property
=_x0y2_ / Simplify exponents.
=_y2_ / Zero exponent property

/ Negative exponent property
/ Power of a quotient property
/ Power of a power property
/ Negative exponent property

Your Notes

CheckpointEvaluate or simplify each expression.

1.

2.(4  103)(7  102)

280 or 2.8  102

3.(x2y6)7

4.

Example 4

Compare real-life volumes

Beach Ball The radius of a beach ball is about 5.6 times greater than the radius of a baseball. How many times as great as the baseball's volume is the beach ball's volume?

Solution

Let r represent the radius of the baseball.

/ The volume of a sphere is.
/ Power of a product property
=__5.63r0_ / Quotient of powers
=_5.63_ / Zero exponent property
176_ / Approximate power.

The beach ball's volume is about 176 times as great as the baseball's volume.

Homework

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