Laws of Exponents
When you see expressions with the same base, you can use exponent rules to simplify them quickly. For the product of powers, simply add the exponents when multiplying terms with the same base: am⋅an=am+n. For example, 24⋅23=24+3=27 or (2y)(4y3)=8y4.
The quotient of powers rule works by subtracting exponents when dividing terms with the same base: anam=am−n. For instance, d2d10=d10−2=d8 and ab4da3b6d2=a2b2d.
When raising a power to another power, use the power of a power rule by multiplying the exponents: (am)n=am⋅n. For example, (84)3=84⋅3=812. With expressions like (−5w2z8)3, apply the rule to each part: (−5)3w2⋅3z8⋅3=(−5)3w6z24.
Remember This! Any number (except 0) raised to the power of zero equals 1, so 50=1 and (−4)0=1. For negative exponents, flip to the reciprocal: 7−3=731 and a−5=a51.