Remember Base x 4 Exponent Reading Math 2

Remember! Base x 4 Exponent

Reading Math 2– 4 is read “ 2 to the negative fourth power. ”

Example 1 One cup is 2– 4 gallons. Simplify this expression. cup is equal to

Example 2 A sand fly may have a wingspan up to 5– 3 m. Simplify this expression. 5 -3 m is equal to

Example 3 Simplify. A. 4– 3 B. 70 7º = 1 C. (– 5)– 4 D. – 5– 4 Any nonzero number raised to the zero power is 1.

Caution In (– 3)– 4, the base is negative because the negative sign is inside the parentheses. In – 3– 4 the base (3) is positive.

Simplify. a. 10– 4 b. (– 2)– 4 c. (– 2)– 5 d. – 2– 5 Example 4

Example 7 Evaluate the expression for the given value of the variable. p– 3 for p = 4 Substitute 4 for p. Evaluate exponent. Write the power in the denominator as a product. Evaluate the powers in the product.

What if you have an expression with a negative exponent in a denominator, such as ? or Definition of a negative exponent. Substitute – 8 for n. Simplify the exponent on the right side. An ifexpression that contains exponent negative or zero So a base with a negative is in a exponents is not denominator, it is considered equivalent to to be thesimplified. same base with Expressions be exponent rewritten with positive the opposite should (positive) in theonly numerator. exponents.

Quiz 1. A square foot is 3– 2 square yards. Simplify this expression. Simplify. 2. 2– 6 3. (– 7)– 3 4. 60 5. 1 for a = 6 and b = 3

Lesson Quiz: Part II Evaluate each expression for the given value(s) of the variables(s). 6. x– 4 for x =10 7. for a = 6 and b = 3