QUESTIONS:
2014; 1ai
terms with negative
exponents
a-m = 1m
a
A term with a negative exponent
is the same as the recipricol
term with a positive exponent
For the term a-m a is the base and -m is the exponent
An exponent can also be refered to as an index or power
The reciporical term is the original term flipped over.
When flipped the term goes from being a numerator
to a denominato or vice versa.
Any term where the exponent is 0 will equal 1
e.g a0 =1
(-5)0 =1
for instance (2x )
2 -2
or
( )
3y
4x3
Simple questions will require you to just
multiply exponents
Higher level questions will require you to
multiply exponents before using more
complex skills
-2
practice Question
Simplify (2x )
2 -2
or
( )
3y
4x3
-2
Example One
Example Two
Rewrite as recipricol
and simplify
Split up base and
exponents for seperate
simplification
Rewrite as
recipricol
1
2 2
(2x )
2 -2
(2x )
(4.3) a + a
3
Multiply/add
seperately
(4.3) =12
And get
2
a3 + a2 = a5
12a5
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Simplify first
Split up
base and
exponent
Multiply/add
seperately
(2x3) .(4x2 y)-2
2
(2x ) .(16x y )
4
3
2
2.2
2
=(4 x 4 yy2))
=(16x
(2.16) x3+ x4y2
(2.16) =32 x3+ x4y2= x7 y2
And get
32x7y2