Table of Contents
Definitions
Exponents are also called Powers or Indices
The exponent of a number says how many times to use the number in a multiplication.
Example
72 = 7 × 7 = 49
72 can be called 7 to the second power or 7 to the power 2 or simply 7 squared
General form of exponent
an tells you to use a in a multiplication n times
Those are positive exponents
How About Negative Exponents?
Dividing is the inverse (opposite) of Multiplying.
A negative exponent means how many times to divide by the number.
Example
2-1 = 1 ÷ 2 = 1/2 = 0.5
many divides
2-2 = 1 ÷ 2 ÷ 2 = 0.25
Or
2-2 = 1 ÷ (2 × 2) = 1/22 = 1/4 = 0.25
a-n tells you to divide by a n times
Easy Way
An easier way to handle negative exponents:
1. Calculate the positive exponent an
2. Then take the Reciprocal 1/ an