Before you begin working with powers and exponents, some basic definitions are necessary.
Two specific types of powers should be noted: squares and cubes. To square a number, just multiply it by itself the way you'd find the area of a square (the exponent is 2). For example, 6 squared (written 6 2) is 6 × 6, or 36. 36 is called a perfect square (the square of a whole number). Following is a partial list of perfect squares:
1 2 = 1
2 2 = 4
3 2 = 9
4 2 = 16
5 2 = 25
6 2 = 36
7 2 = 49
8 2 = 64
9 2 = 81
10 2 = 100
11 2 = 121
12 2 = 144
To cube a number, just multiply it by itself twice the way you'd find the volume of a cube (the exponent is 3). For example, 5 cubed (written 5 3 is 5 × 5 × 5, or 125. 125 is called a perfect cube (the cube of a whole number). Following is a partial list of perfect cubes.
1 3 = 1 × 1 × 1 = 1
2 3 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8
3 3 = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27
4 3 = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64
5 3 = 5 × 5 × 5 = 125
6 3 = 6 × 6 × 6 = 216
7 3 = 7 × 7 × 7 = 343
To multiply two numbers with exponents, if the base numbers are the same, simply keep the base number and add the exponents.
Multiply the following, leaving the answers with exponents.
2 3 × 2 5
3 2 × 3 5
5 4 × 5 7
To divide two numbers with exponents, if the base numbers are the same, simply keep the base number and subtract the second exponent from the first, or the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator.
Divide the following, leaving the answers with exponents.
To multiply or divide numbers with exponents, if the base numbers are different, you must simplify each number with an exponent first and then perform the operation.
Simplify and perform the operation indicated.
For problems such as those in Example , some shortcuts are possible.
To add or subtract numbers with exponents, whether the base numbers are the same or different, you must simplify each number with an exponent first and then perform the indicated operation.
Simplify and perform the operation indicated.
3 2 – 2 3
5 2 + 3 3
4 2 + 9 3
2 3 – 2 2
3 2 – 2 3 = 9 – 8 = 1
5 2 + 3 3 = 25 + 27 = 52
4 2 + 9 3 = 16 + 729 = 745
2 3 – 2 2 = 8 – 4 = 4
If a number with an exponent is taken to another power (4 2) 3, simply keep the original base number and multiply the exponents.
Multiply the following and leave the answers with exponents.
(6 3) 2
(3 2) 4
(5 4) 3
(6 3) 2 = 6 (3 × 2) = 6 6
(3 2) 4 = 3 (2 × 4) = 3 8
(5 4) 3 = 5 (4 × 3) = 5 12