The 6 without an exponent is equivalent to the 6 having a 0 exponent

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 109 views

Introduction

Exponents are a fundamental concept in mathematics, used to represent repeated multiplication of a number. In this article, we will explore the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ and examine the statements made about it. We will analyze each statement and determine whether it is true or false.

The 6 without an exponent is equivalent to the 6 having a 0 exponent

The first statement claims that the 6 without an exponent is equivalent to the 6 having a 0 exponent. To understand this, let's recall the definition of an exponent. When a number is raised to a power, it means that the number is multiplied by itself as many times as the exponent indicates. For example, $6^2$ means $6 \cdot 6$ , and $6^3$ means $6 \cdot 6 \cdot 6$ .

In the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ , the 6 without an exponent is simply $6$ . On the other hand, the 6 with a 0 exponent, $6^0$ , is equal to 1, not 6. This is because any number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1. Therefore, the statement that the 6 without an exponent is equivalent to the 6 having a 0 exponent is false.

The sum of the exponents is 2

The second statement claims that the sum of the exponents is 2. Let's examine the exponents in the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ . We have $6^0$ and $6^{-3}$ , but there is no $6^2$ in the expression. Therefore, the sum of the exponents is not 2, but rather $0 + (-3) = -3$ . This statement is false.

Multiply the exponents to simplify

The third statement claims that multiplying the exponents will simplify the expression. However, this is not the case. When we multiply exponents with the same base, we add the exponents, not multiply them. For example, $(6^2 \cdot 6^3) = 6^{2+3} = 6^5$ . In the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ , we cannot multiply the exponents to simplify the expression. Therefore, this statement is false.

Simplifying the Expression

Now that we have examined the statements, let's simplify the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ . We can start by evaluating the exponent $6^0$ . As we mentioned earlier, any number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1. Therefore, $6^0 = 1$ . Now, we can rewrite the expression as $6 \cdot 1 \cdot 6^{-3}$ .

Next, we can evaluate the exponent $6^{-3}$ . When a number is raised to a negative power, it means that we are taking the reciprocal of the number raised to the positive power. Therefore, $6^{-3} = \frac{1}{6^3} = \frac{1}{216}$ .

Now, we can rewrite the expression as $6 \cdot 1 \cdot \frac{1}{216}$ . We can simplify this expression by multiplying the numbers together. $6 \cdot 1 = 6$ , and $6 \cdot \frac{1}{216} = \frac{6}{216} = \frac{1}{36}$ .

Therefore, the simplified expression is $\frac{1}{36}$ .

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have examined the statements made about the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ . We found that the statements that the 6 without an exponent is equivalent to the 6 having a 0 exponent, the sum of the exponents is 2, and multiplying the exponents will simplify the expression are all false. We then simplified the expression by evaluating the exponents and multiplying the numbers together, resulting in the simplified expression $\frac{1}{36}$ .

Understanding Exponents and Simplifying Expressions: Key Takeaways

Exponents are a fundamental concept in mathematics, used to represent repeated multiplication of a number.
When a number is raised to a power, it means that the number is multiplied by itself as many times as the exponent indicates.
Any number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.
When a number is raised to a negative power, it means that we are taking the reciprocal of the number raised to the positive power.
Multiplying exponents with the same base adds the exponents, not multiplies them.
Simplifying an expression involves evaluating the exponents and multiplying the numbers together.

Q: What is the difference between an exponent and a power?

A: An exponent is a small number that is written to the right of a base number, indicating how many times the base number should be multiplied by itself. A power, on the other hand, is the result of raising a base number to an exponent.

Q: How do you simplify an expression with exponents?

A: To simplify an expression with exponents, you need to evaluate the exponents and multiply the numbers together. For example, if you have the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3}$ , you would first evaluate the exponent $6^0$ , which is equal to 1. Then, you would evaluate the exponent $6^{-3}$ , which is equal to $\frac{1}{216}$ . Finally, you would multiply the numbers together to get the simplified expression.

Q: What is the rule for multiplying exponents with the same base?

A: When multiplying exponents with the same base, you add the exponents, not multiply them. For example, $(6^2 \cdot 6^3) = 6^{2+3} = 6^5$ .

Q: What is the rule for dividing exponents with the same base?

A: When dividing exponents with the same base, you subtract the exponents. For example, $\frac{6^3}{6^2} = 6^{3-2} = 6^1$ .

Q: How do you handle negative exponents?

A: When a number is raised to a negative power, it means that we are taking the reciprocal of the number raised to the positive power. For example, $6^{-3} = \frac{1}{6^3} = \frac{1}{216}$ .

Q: What is the difference between an exponential expression and a polynomial expression?

A: An exponential expression is an expression that involves raising a base number to a power, such as $6^2$ . A polynomial expression, on the other hand, is an expression that involves adding or subtracting terms that are raised to different powers, such as $6^2 + 3x^2$ .

Q: How do you simplify an expression with multiple exponents?

A: To simplify an expression with multiple exponents, you need to evaluate each exponent separately and then multiply the numbers together. For example, if you have the expression $6 \cdot 6^0 \cdot 6^{-3} \cdot 3^2$ , you would first evaluate the exponents $6^0$ and $6^{-3}$ , which are equal to 1 and $\frac{1}{216}$ , respectively. Then, you would evaluate the exponent $3^2$ , which is equal to 9. Finally, you would multiply the numbers together to get the simplified expression.

Q: What is the order of operations for simplifying expressions with exponents?

A: The order of operations for simplifying expressions with exponents is:

Evaluate any exponents with a base of 1.
Evaluate any exponents with a negative power.
Multiply or divide exponents with the same base.
Add or subtract exponents with the same base.
Multiply or divide numbers together.

By following this order of operations, you can simplify expressions with exponents and solve problems with confidence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, exponents are a fundamental concept in mathematics, used to represent repeated multiplication of a number. Simplifying expressions with exponents involves evaluating the exponents and multiplying the numbers together. By understanding the rules for multiplying and dividing exponents, handling negative exponents, and simplifying expressions with multiple exponents, you can solve problems with confidence.