Answer Key to CK-12: Andrew Gloag, Anne Gloag, and Melissa Kramer’s Basic
Algebra: CK12 Editors’ “Chapter 8.1: Exponential Properties Involving Products”
Problems 1–13
1. The base is a, the exponent is 5, and the power is 5. It would be written as a • a • a •
a • a.
2. The answer would be negative. The negative sign is on the outside, so the exponent
does not apply to it.
3. The answer would be negative. Since the -8 is not in parentheses, you leave the
negative sign for the last step.
4. The answer would be negative. The negative is inside the parentheses, so the
exponent applies. An odd exponent on a negative sign gives a negative answer.
5. The difference is that the first answer would be negative and the second would be
positive. The second one has a negative sign inside parentheses, so the exponent
applies to the sign.
6. 22. The base is 2, and it appears twice.
7. (-3)3. The base is -3, so we have to put it inside parentheses. It appears three times,
so the exponent is 3.
8. y5. The base is y, and it appears 5 times.
9. (3a)4. The base is 3a, so we have to put it inside parentheses. It appears four times,
so the exponent is 4.
10. 45. The base is 4, and it appears five times.
11. (3x)3. The base is 3x, so we have to put it inside parentheses. It appears three
times, so the exponent is 3.
12. (-2a)4. The base is -2a, so we have to put it inside parentheses. It appears four
times, so the exponent is 4.
13. 63x2y4. There are three 6’s, two x’s, and four y’s. Because we are multiplying, we
can just write them as one giant term with no parentheses necessary.
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