EXPONENTS
Review of Introductory Mathematics
Summary
Pertinent information concerning exponents is summarized below.
Exponents Summary
BaseExponent = Product
Rule 1:
To multiply numbers with the same base,
add the exponents and keep the base the
same.
aman = am+n
Rule 2:
When raising a power of a number to a
power, multiply the exponents and keep the
base the same.
(am)n = amn
Rule 3:
When dividing two exponential numbers,
subtract the powers.
am/an = am-n
Rule 4:
Any exponential number divided by itself is
equal to one.
an/an = 1
Rule 5:
To raise a product to a power, raise each
factor to that power.
(ab)n = anbn
Rule 6:
To raise a quotient to a power, raise both
the numerator and denominator to that
power.
(a/b)n = an/bn
Any number to the zero power equals one.
The rules for positive exponents apply to negative exponents.
The rules for integer exponents apply to fractional exponents.
MA-01
Page 66
Rev. 0
