Exponents Handout
PA_M1_S4_T2
The second type of operation that you want to do in order of operations,
is too simplify any terms that have exponents in them. Exponents can
appear on a single term, or on a set of grouping symbols. Here on the
left, my exponent is applied to a single term of 3, so I'm going to do
this step second, after I've done what's in parentheses(first).
So I have 3 cubed, plus 4 - 2 which is 2, so I've simplified the grouping
symbols and now I'm going to do my exponent, 3 cubed is 27, plus 2 is 29.
I could also have an exponent applied outside of
a grouping term. When I see this I need to do
what's inside parentheses first, so that now I
get 5 cubed plus 5. Now I've cubed the 5 and I
get 125 plus 5 is equal to 130.
Now, there are times when you might see exponents
inside of grouping symbols. When that happens we still want to do what's
inside parentheses first and that may involve simplifying one of my
exponential terms before I do the others. In this case I have 3 cubed out
front, I'm going to square my 4 inside the parentheses before I subtract.
Now I'm going to simplify what's inside parentheses and I get 14. And
then I'm going to do my cube on the 3. 27 plus 14, and then I'm going to
add 27 and 14 and get 41.
Notice that I may need to do an exponent inside the parentheses before I
can evaluate what the parentheses term is.