Answer/Discussion on Integer Exponents

College Algebra
Answer/Discussion to Practice Problems
Tutorial 2: Integer Exponents

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Answer/Discussion to 1a

*Write the base -10 in a product 2 times
*Multiply

(return to problem 1a)

Answer/Discussion to 1b

*Negate 10 squared
*Put a - in front of 10 written in a product 2 times
*Multiply

(return to problem 1b)

Answer/Discussion to 1c

*When mult. like bases you add your exponents: -2 + 2 = 0 and 4 + (-5) = -1

*Any base raised to the 0 power is 1
*Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base

Be careful here. It is real tempting to take the reciprocal of -6 because of the negative sign. Remember that you take the reciprocal of the base if the EXPONENT is negative not if the base is negative.

(return to problem 1c)

Answer/Discussion to 1d

*When raising a prod. to an exponent, raise each base of the prod to that exponent
*When you raise a base to two powers, you multiply your exponents

(return to problem 1d)

Answer/Discussion to 1e

*When div. like bases you subtract your exponents

*Rewrite b with a pos. exp. by taking its recip.

Be careful here. It is real tempting to take the reciprocal of -3 because of the negative sign. Remember that you take the reciprocal of the base if the EXPONENT is negative not if the base is negative.

(return to problem 1e)

Answer/Discussion to 1f

*When raising a quotient to an exponent, raise each base of the quotient to that exponent
*When you raise a base to two powers, you multiply your exponents

*Rewrite with a pos. exp. by taking recip. of base

(return to problem 1f)

WTAMU > Virtual Math Lab > College Algebra > Tutorial 2: Integer Exponents