NAME _____________________________________________ DATE __________________ PERIOD _________
Lesson 5 Problem-Solving Practice
Negative Exponents
1. MOTHS A Polyphemus Moth caterpillar
1
times less when it
weighs about −−−
2
64
first becomes a larva than it does when
it is fully grown. Write this number
using a negative exponent. 64−2
3. MONEY The school system spent 38
dollars on fuel for buses and school
vehicles per week last year. This year,
they spent 310 dollars per week. How
many times more did they spend per
week this year than last year? 32
2. WEIGHT The length of one common
termite is about 30−2 meters. Write this
number using a positive exponent.
1
30
−−−2 m
4. MEASUREMENT The table converts the
size of each measurement to kilograms.
Write each number using a positive
exponent.
1
1
1
−−
, −−
, −−
5
4
2
10
10
10
5. SCIENCE Electrons are smaller than
10-18 meters. Write this number using
a positive exponent.
1
−−−
m
18
10
12
6. MONEY A bank loans a new business 67
dollars to get started. If the business
pays back 65 dollars per year, how many
years will it take to pay off the loan?
Write your answer using a positive
exponent. 62 yr
Course 3 • Chapter 1 Real Numbers
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission is granted to reproduce for classroom use.
Amount
Amount in Kilograms
1 centigram
10-5
1 decigram
10-4
1 dekagram
10-2