Identify the base and the exponents

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 141 views

Introduction

The laws of exponents are a set of rules that help us simplify complex exponential expressions. These laws allow us to manipulate exponents in a way that makes it easier to work with them. In this article, we will explore the laws of exponents and use them to simplify two given expressions.

The Laws of Exponents

Before we dive into the simplification of the given expressions, let's review the laws of exponents. There are four main laws of exponents:

Product of Powers Law: When we multiply two powers with the same base, we add their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$
Power of a Power Law: When we raise a power to another power, we multiply their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $(a^m)^n = a^{m \cdot n}$
Quotient of Powers Law: When we divide two powers with the same base, we subtract their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $\frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n}$
Zero Exponent Law: Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $a^0 = 1$

Simplifying Expression 1.2.1

Let's start by simplifying the first expression:

\frac{\left(3 p^{-2} \cdot q^2\right)^3}{9 p^{-2} q^4 \cdot 3 p q}

To simplify this expression, we will use the product of powers law and the quotient of powers law.

Step 1: Simplify the numerator

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the numerator as follows:

\left(3 p^{-2} \cdot q^2\right)^3 = 3^3 \cdot (p^{-2})^3 \cdot (q^2)^3

= 27 \cdot p^{-6} \cdot q^6

Step 2: Simplify the denominator

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the denominator as follows:

9 p^{-2} q^4 \cdot 3 p q = 27 p^{-1} q^4

Step 3: Simplify the expression

Now that we have simplified the numerator and the denominator, we can simplify the expression as follows:

\frac{27 \cdot p^{-6} \cdot q^6}{27 p^{-1} q^4}

Using the quotient of powers law, we can simplify this expression as follows:

= p^{-6} \cdot q^6 \cdot p^1 \cdot q^{-4}

= p^{-5} \cdot q^2

Step 4: Simplify the expression further

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the expression further as follows:

p^{-5} \cdot q^2 = \frac{q^2}{p^5}

Therefore, the simplified expression is:

\frac{q^2}{p^5}

Simplifying Expression 1.2.2

Let's start by simplifying the second expression:

\left(4 \cdot 3^2 \cdot x^3 \cdot y^{-2}\right)^{-2}

To simplify this expression, we will use the power of a power law and the product of powers law.

Step 1: Simplify the expression

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the expression as follows:

\left(4 \cdot 3^2 \cdot x^3 \cdot y^{-2}\right)^{-2} = 4^{-2} \cdot (3^2)^{-2} \cdot (x^3)^{-2} \cdot (y^{-2})^{-2}

Step 2: Simplify the expression further

Using the power of a power law, we can simplify the expression further as follows:

= 4^{-2} \cdot 3^{-4} \cdot x^{-6} \cdot y^4

Step 3: Simplify the expression further

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the expression further as follows:

= \frac{y^4}{4^2 \cdot 3^4 \cdot x^6}

Step 4: Simplify the expression further

Using the product of powers law, we can simplify the expression further as follows:

= \frac{y^4}{16 \cdot 81 \cdot x^6}

= \frac{y^4}{1296 \cdot x^6}

Therefore, the simplified expression is:

\frac{y^4}{1296 \cdot x^6}

Conclusion

In this article, we have used the laws of exponents to simplify two complex exponential expressions. We have applied the product of powers law, the power of a power law, and the quotient of powers law to simplify the expressions. The simplified expressions are:

$\frac{q^2}{p^5}$
$\frac{y^4}{1296 \cdot x^6}$

Q: What are the laws of exponents?

A: The laws of exponents are a set of rules that help us simplify complex exponential expressions. There are four main laws of exponents:

Product of Powers Law: When we multiply two powers with the same base, we add their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $a^m \cdot a^n = a^{m+n}$
Power of a Power Law: When we raise a power to another power, we multiply their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $(a^m)^n = a^{m \cdot n}$
Quotient of Powers Law: When we divide two powers with the same base, we subtract their exponents. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $\frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m-n}$
Zero Exponent Law: Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $a^0 = 1$

Q: How do I simplify an exponential expression using the laws of exponents?

A: To simplify an exponential expression using the laws of exponents, follow these steps:

Identify the base and the exponents: Identify the base and the exponents in the expression.
Apply the product of powers law: If the expression involves the product of two or more powers with the same base, add their exponents.
Apply the power of a power law: If the expression involves raising a power to another power, multiply their exponents.
Apply the quotient of powers law: If the expression involves dividing two powers with the same base, subtract their exponents.
Simplify the expression: Simplify the expression by combining like terms and canceling out any common factors.

Q: What is the difference between a positive exponent and a negative exponent?

A: A positive exponent indicates that the base is raised to a power, while a negative exponent indicates that the base is raised to a reciprocal power. For example:

$a^m$ indicates that the base $a$ is raised to the power of $m$ .
$a^{-m}$ indicates that the base $a$ is raised to the reciprocal power of $m$ .

Q: How do I handle negative exponents?

A: To handle negative exponents, follow these steps:

Move the negative exponent to the other side of the fraction: If the negative exponent is in the numerator, move it to the denominator. If it is in the denominator, move it to the numerator.
Change the negative exponent to a positive exponent: Change the negative exponent to a positive exponent by multiplying it by $-1$ .

Q: What is the zero exponent law?

A: The zero exponent law states that any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1. Mathematically, this can be represented as: $a^0 = 1$

Q: How do I apply the zero exponent law?

A: To apply the zero exponent law, follow these steps:

Identify the base and the exponent: Identify the base and the exponent in the expression.
Check if the exponent is zero: Check if the exponent is zero.
Apply the zero exponent law: If the exponent is zero, replace the expression with 1.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying exponential expressions?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when simplifying exponential expressions include:

Not following the order of operations: Make sure to follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) when simplifying exponential expressions.
Not simplifying the expression fully: Make sure to simplify the expression fully by combining like terms and canceling out any common factors.
Not handling negative exponents correctly: Make sure to handle negative exponents correctly by moving them to the other side of the fraction and changing them to positive exponents.

Conclusion

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions on simplifying exponential expressions using the laws of exponents. We have covered topics such as the laws of exponents, simplifying exponential expressions, handling negative exponents, and applying the zero exponent law. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can simplify complex exponential expressions with ease.