We think you are located in South Africa. Is this correct?

Revision Of Exponent Laws

2.2 Revision of exponent laws (EMAT)

There are several laws we can use to make working with exponential numbers easier. Some of these laws might have been done in earlier grades, but we list all the laws here for easy reference:

• $${a}^{m}\times {a}^{n}={a}^{m+n}$$

• $$\dfrac{{a}^{m}}{{a}^{n}}={a}^{m-n}$$

• $${\left(ab\right)}^{n}={a}^{n}{b}^{n}$$

• $${\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)}^{n}=\dfrac{{a}^{n}}{{b}^{n}}$$

• $${\left({a}^{m}\right)}^{n}={a}^{mn}$$

where $$a>0$$, $$b>0$$ and $$m,n\in \mathbb{R}$$

The following two videos explain the exponent laws.

Part 1:

Video: 2DZD

Part 2:

Video: 2DZF

Worked example 1: Applying the exponential laws

Simplify:

1. $${2}^{3x}\times {2}^{4x}$$

2. $$\dfrac{4x^{3}}{2x^{5}}$$

3. $$\dfrac{12{p}^{2}{t}^{5}}{3p{t}^{3}}$$

4. $${\left(3x\right)}^{2}$$

5. $${\left({3}^{4}{5}^{2}\right)}^{3}$$

6. $$6p^{0} \times \left(7p\right)^{0}$$

7. $${\left(\dfrac{2xp}{6x^2}\right)}^{3}$$

8. $${\left({2}^{-2}\right)}^{2x+1}$$

1. $${2}^{3x}\times {2}^{4x}={2}^{3x+4x}={2}^{7x}$$

2. $$\dfrac{4x^{3}}{2x^{5}}=2x^{3-5}=2x^{-2}=\dfrac{2}{x^{2}}$$

3. $$\dfrac{12{p}^{2}{t}^{5}}{3p{t}^{3}}=4{p}^{\left(2-1\right)}{t}^{\left(5-3\right)}=4p{t}^{2}$$

4. $${\left(3x\right)}^{2}={3}^{2}{x}^{2}=9{x}^{2}$$

5. $${\left({3}^{4}\times {5}^{2}\right)}^{3}={3}^{\left(4\times 3\right)}\times {5}^{\left(2\times 3\right)}={3}^{12}\times {5}^{6}$$

6. $$6p^{0} \times \left(7p\right)^{0} = 6(1) \times 1 = 6$$

7. $${\left(\dfrac{2xp}{6x^2}\right)}^{3}=\left(\dfrac{p}{3x}\right)^{3}=\dfrac{p^{3}}{27x^{3}}$$

8. $${\left({2}^{-2}\right)}^{2x+1}=2^{-2(2x+1)}=2^{-4x-2}$$

Worked example 2: Exponential expressions

Simplify: $$\dfrac{{2}^{2n}\times {4}^{n}\times 2}{{16}^{n}}$$

Change the bases to prime numbers

At first glance it appears that we cannot simplify this expression. However, if we reduce the bases to prime bases, then we can apply the exponent laws.

$\dfrac{{2}^{2n} \times {4}^{n} \times 2}{{16}^{n}} = \dfrac{{2}^{2n} \times {\left({2}^{2}\right)}^{n} \times {2}^{1}}{{\left({2}^{4}\right)}^{n}}$

Simplify the exponents

\begin{align*} & =\dfrac{{2}^{2n} \times {2}^{2n} \times {2}^{1}}{{2}^{4n}} \\ & = \dfrac{{2}^{2n + 2n + 1}}{{2}^{4n}} \\ & = \dfrac{{2}^{4n + 1}}{{2}^{4n}} \\ & ={2}^{4n + 1 - \left(4n\right)} \\ & = 2 \end{align*}

When you have a fraction that is one term over one term, use the method of Finding Prime Bases - in other words use prime factorisation on the bases.

Worked example 3: Exponential expressions

Simplify:

$\dfrac{{5}^{2x - 1} \cdot {9}^{x - 2}}{{15}^{2x - 3}}$

Change the bases to prime numbers

\begin{align*} \dfrac{{5}^{2x - 1} \cdot {9}^{x - 2}}{{15}^{2x - 3}} & = \dfrac{{5}^{2x - 1} \cdot {\left({3}^{2}\right)}^{x - 2}}{{\left(5\times 3\right)}^{2x - 3}} \\ & = \dfrac{{5}^{2x - 1} \cdot {3}^{2x - 4}}{{5}^{2x - 3} \cdot {3}^{2x - 3}} \end{align*}

Subtract the exponents (same base)

\begin{align*} & = {5}^{\left(2x - 1\right) - \left(2x - 3\right)} \times {3}^{\left(2x - 4\right) - \left(2x - 3\right)} \\ & = {5}^{2x - 1 - 2x + 3} \times {3}^{2x - 4 - 2x + 3} \\ & = {5}^{2} \times {3}^{-1} \end{align*}

Write the answer as a fraction

\begin{align*} &= \dfrac{{5}^{2}}{3} \\ & = \dfrac{25}{3} \end{align*}

When working with exponents, all the laws of operation for algebra apply.

Worked example 4: Simplifying by taking out a common factor

Simplify:

$\dfrac{{2}^{t} - {2}^{t - 2}}{3\cdot {2}^{t} - {2}^{t}}$

Simplify to a form that can be factorised

For each of the exponent laws we can “undo” the law - in other words we can work backwards. For this expression we can reverse the multiplication law to write $$2^{t - 2}$$ as $$2^{t} \cdot 2^{-2}$$.

$\frac{{2}^{t} - {2}^{t - 2}}{3\cdot {2}^{t} - {2}^{t}} = \frac{{2}^{t} - \left({2}^{t}\cdot {2}^{-2}\right)}{3\cdot {2}^{t}-{2}^{t}}$

Take out a common factor

$= \frac{{2}^{t}\left(1 - {2}^{-2}\right)}{{2}^{t}\left(3 - 1\right)}$

Cancel the common factor and simplify

\begin{align*} & = \frac{1-2^{-2}}{3-1} \\ & = \frac{1 - \frac{1}{4}}{2}\\ & = \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{1}{2} \\ & = \frac{3}{8} \end{align*}

When you have a fraction that has more than one term in the numerator or denominator, change to prime bases if necessary and then factorise.

Worked example 5: Simplifying using difference of two squares

Simplify:

$\dfrac{{9}^{x} - 1}{{3}^{x} + 1}$

Change the bases to prime numbers

\begin{align*} \dfrac{{9}^{x} - 1}{{3}^{x} + 1} & = \dfrac{{\left({3}^{2}\right)}^{x} - 1}{{3}^{x} + 1} \\ & = \dfrac{{3}^{2x} - 1}{{3}^{x} + 1} \qquad \text{Recognise that } 3^{2x} = \left(3^{x}\right)^{2} \end{align*}

Factorise using the difference of squares

$= \dfrac{\left({3}^{x} - 1\right)\left({3}^{x} + 1\right)}{{3}^{x} + 1}$

Cancel the common factor and simplify

$= {3}^{x}-1$

Test yourself now

High marks in maths are the key to your success and future plans. Test yourself and learn more on Siyavula Practice.

Exercise 2.1

Simplify without using a calculator:

$$16^{0}$$

$16^{0} = 1$

$$16a^{0}$$

\begin{align*} 16a^{0} & = 16(1)\\ & = 16 \end{align*}

$$\text{11}^{9x} \times \text{11}^{2x}$$

\begin{align*} \text{11}^{9x} \times \text{11}^{2x} &= \text{11} ^{9x + 2x }\\ &= \text{11} ^{11x} \end{align*}

$$\text{10}^{6x} \times \text{10}^{2x}$$

\begin{align*} \text{10}^{6x} \times \text{10}^{2x} &= \text{10} ^{6x + 2x }\\ &= \text{10} ^{8x} \end{align*}

$$(\text{6}c)^{\text{3}}$$

\begin{align*} (\text{6} c) ^{\text{3}} &= \text{6} ^{\text{3}} c^{\text{3}}\\ &= \text{216} c ^{\text{3}} \end{align*}

$$(\text{5}n)^{\text{3}}$$

\begin{align*} (\text{5} n) ^{\text{3}} &= \text{5} ^{\text{3}} n^{\text{3}}\\ &= \text{125} n ^{\text{3}} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{2^{-2}}{3^{2}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{2^{-2}}{3^{2}} & = \frac{\frac{1}{2^{2}}}{9}\\ & = \frac{1}{4} \times \dfrac{1}{9} \\ & = \frac{1}{36} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{5}{2^{-3}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{5}{2^{-3}} & = \dfrac{5}{\frac{1}{2^{3}}}\\ & = \frac{5}{1} \times \frac{8}{1} \\ & = 40 \end{align*}

$$\left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^{-3}$$

\begin{align*} \left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^{-3} & = \frac{2^{-3}}{3^{-3}}\\ & = \frac{1}{8} \times \dfrac{27}{1} \\ & = \frac{27}{8} \end{align*}
$$\dfrac{a^2}{a^{-1}}$$
$\frac{a^2}{a^{-1}} = a^3$
$$\dfrac{xy^{-3}}{x^4y}$$
$\frac{xy^{-3}}{x^4y} = \frac{1}{x^3y^4}$

$$x^{2}x^{3t + 1}$$

\begin{align*} x^{2}x^{3t + 1} & = x^{2}x^{3t}x^{1} \\ & = x^{2 + 1}x^{3t} \\ & = x^{3}x^{3t} \\ & = x^{3t + 3} \end{align*}

$$3 \times 3^{2a} \times 3^{2}$$

\begin{align*} 3 \times 3^{2a} \times 3^{2} & = 3^{1 + 2a + 2} \\ & = 3^{2a + 3} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{2}^{m + 20}}{\text{2}^{m + 20}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{\text{2}^{ m +20}} {\text{2}^{ m +20}} & = \text{2}^{(m +20) - (m +20)} \\ & = \text{2}^{m + 20 - m - 20} \\ & = \text{2}^{0} \\ & = \text{1} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{2}^{x+4}}{\text{2}^{x+3}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{\text{2}^{ x +4}} {\text{2}^{ x +3}} & = \text{2}^{(x +4) - (x +3)} \\ &= \text{2}^{x+4 - x-3} \\ &= \text{2}^{1} \\ &= \text{2} \end{align*}

$$(2a^4)(3ab^2)$$
$(2a^4)(3ab^2) = 6a^5b^2$
$$(7m^4n)(8m^6n^8)$$
$(7m^4n)(8m^6n^8) = 56m^{10}n^{9}$
$$2(-a^7b^8)(-4a^3b^6)(-9a^6b^2)$$
\begin{align*} 2(-a^7b^8)(-4a^3b^6)(-9a^6b^2) & = -72a^{7 + 3 + 6}b^{8 + 6 + 2} \\ & =-72a^{16}b^{16} \end{align*}
$$(-9x^3y^6)\left(\dfrac{1}{9}x^8y^7\right)\left(\dfrac{1}{5}x^3y^6\right)$$
$(-9x^3y^6)\left(\frac{1}{9}x^8y^7\right)\left(\frac{1}{5}x^3y^6\right) = -\frac{1}{5}x^{14}y^{19}$

$$\dfrac{a^{3x}}{a^{x}}$$

\begin{align*} \dfrac{a^{3x}}{a^{x}} & = a^{3x} \times a^{-x}\\ & = a^{3x - x} \\ & = a^{2x} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{20} x^{\text{10}} a^{\text{4}}}{\text{4} x^{\text{9}} a^{\text{3}}}$$

\begin{align*} &\frac{\text{20}x^{\text{10}}a^{\text{4}}}{\text{4}x^{\text{9}}a^{\text{3}}}\\ &= \text{5}x^{(\text{10} - \text{9})}a^{(\text{4} - \text{3})} \\ &= \text{5}ax \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{18} c^{\text{10}} p^{\text{8}}}{\text{9} c^{\text{6}} p^{\text{5}}}$$

\begin{align*} &\frac{\text{18}c^{\text{10}}p^{\text{8}}}{\text{9}c^{\text{6}}p^{\text{5}}}\\ &= \text{2}c^{(\text{10} - \text{6})}p^{(\text{8} - \text{5})} \\ &= \text{2}c^{\text{4}}p^{\text{3}} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{6} m^{\text{8}} a^{\text{10}}}{\text{2} m^{\text{3}} a^{\text{5}}}$$

\begin{align*} &\frac{\text{6}m^{\text{8}}a^{\text{10}}}{\text{2}m^{\text{3}}a^{\text{5}}}\\ &= \text{3}m^{(\text{8} - \text{3})}a^{(\text{10} - \text{5})} \\ &= \text{3}a^{\text{5}}m^{\text{5}} \end{align*}

$$3^{12} \div 3^9$$
\begin{align*} 3^{12} \div 3^9 & = 3^{12 - 9} \\ & = 3^{3} \\ & = 27 \end{align*}
$$\dfrac{7(a^3)^3}{a^7}$$
\begin{align*} \frac{7(a^3)^3}{a^7} & = \frac{7a^9}{a^7} \\ & = 7a^2 \end{align*}
$$\dfrac{9(ab^4)^8}{a^3b^5}$$
\begin{align*} \frac{9(ab^4)^8}{a^3b^5} & = \frac{9a^{8}b^{32}}{a^{3}b^{5}} \\ & = 9a^{5}b^{27} \end{align*}
$$\dfrac{2^2}{6^2}$$
\begin{align*} \frac{2^2}{6^2} & = \left(\frac{2}{6}\right)^2 \\ & = \frac{1}{3^2} \\ & = \frac{1}{9} \end{align*}
$$\left(\dfrac{a^6}{b^7}\right)^5$$
$\left(\frac{a^6}{b^7}\right)^5 = \frac{a^{30}}{b^{35}}$

$$\left(2t^{4}\right)^{3}$$

\begin{align*} \left(2t^{4}\right)^{3} & = 2^{3}t^{(4)(3)}\\ & = 8t^{12} \end{align*}

$$\left(3^{n+3}\right)^{2}$$

\begin{align*} \left(3^{n+3}\right)^{2} & = 3^{(n + 3)(2)}\\ & = 3^{2n+6} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{3^{n}9^{n-3}}{27^{n-1}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{3^{n}9^{n - 3}}{27^{n - 1}} & = \frac{3^{n}3^{2(n - 3)}}{3^{3(n - 1)}}\\ & = \frac{3^{n}3^{2n - 6}}{3^{3n - 3}}\\ & = \frac{3^{n + 2n - 6}}{3^{3n - 3}}\\ & = \frac{3^{3n - 6}}{3^{3n - 3}}\\ & = 3^{(3n - 6) - (3n - 3)} \\ & = 3^{3n - 6 - 3n + 3} \\ & = 3^{-3} \\ & = \frac{1}{27} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{13}^{c}+ \text{13}^{c+2}}{\text{3} \times \text{13}^{c}- \text{13}^{c}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{\text{13}^{c}+ \text{13}^{c+2}}{\text{3} \times \text{13}^{c}- \text{13}^{c}} &= \frac{\text{13}^{c}(\text{1} +\text{13}^{2})}{\text{13}^{c}(\text{3} -\text{1})} \\ &= \frac{(\text{1} +\text{13}^{2})}{(\text{3} -\text{1})} \\ &= \frac{\text{1} +\text{169}}{\text{3} -\text{1}} \\ &= \frac{\text{170}}{\text{2}} \\ &= \frac{\text{85}}{\text{1}} \\ & = \text{85} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{3}^{\text{5}x} \times \text{81}^{\text{5}x} \times \text{3}^\text{3}}{\text{9}^{\text{8}x}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{\text{3}^{\text{5} x} \times \text{81} ^{\text{5} x} \times \text{3} ^\text{3}}{\text{9} ^{\text{8} x}} & = \frac{\text{3} ^{\text{5} x} \times {\left(\text{3} ^\text{4} \right) }^{\text{5} x} \times \text{3} ^\text{3}}{{\left( \text{3} ^\text{2} \right)} ^{\text{8} x}} \\ & = \frac{ \text{3} ^{\text{5} x} \times \text{3} ^{\text{20} x} \times \text{3}^\text{3}}{\text{3}^{\text{16}x}}\\ &= \frac{\text{3}^{\text{5}x + \text{20}x + \text{3}}}{\text{3}^{\text{16}x}}\\ &= \frac{\text{3}^{\text{25}x + \text{3}}}{\text{3}^{\text{16}x}}\\ &= \text{3}^{\text{25}x + \text{3} - \text{16}x }\\ &= \text{3}^{\text{9}x + \text{3}} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{16}^{x}- \text{144}^{b}}{\text{4}^{x}- \text{12}^{b}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{ \text{16} ^{x} - \text{144} ^{b}}{\text{4} ^{x}- \text{12}^{b}} & = \frac{{\left(\text{4}^\text{2}\right)}^x- {\left(\text{12}^\text{2}\right)}^b}{\text{4}^{x}- \text{12}^{b}} \\ &= \frac{{\left(\text{4}^x\right)}^{\text{2}}- {\left(\text{12}^b\right)}^{\text{2}}}{\text{4}^{x}- \text{12}^{b}} \\ &= \frac{\left(\text{4}^x- \text{12}^b\right)\left(\text{4}^x+ \text{12}^b\right)}{\text{4}^{x}- \text{12}^{b}} \\ &= \text{4}^{x}+ \text{12}^{b} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{\text{5}^{\text{2}y-3} \text{2}^{\text{4}y+4}}{\text{10}^{-\text{5}y+5}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{\text{5} ^{2y -3} \text{2} ^{4y +4}}{\text{10} ^{-5y +5}} & = \frac{5^{2y - 3} \cdot 2^{4y + 4}}{(5 \times 2)^{-5y + 5}} \\ &= \frac{\text{5}^{2y-3} \text{2}^{4y+4}} {\text{5}^{-5y+5}\text{2}^{-5y+5}}\\ &= \text{5}^{(2y-3) - (-5y+5)} \times \text{2}^{(4y+4) - (-5y+5)}\\ &= \text{5}^{7y -\text{8}} \times \text{2}^{9y-\text{1}} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{6^4 \times 12^3 \times 4^5}{30^3 \times 3^6}$$
\begin{align*} \frac{6^4 \times 12^3 \times 4^5}{30^3 \times 3^6} & = \frac{\left(3^{4} \times 2^{4}\right) \times \left(3^{3} \times 4^{3}\right) \times 4^{5}}{\left(3^{3} \times 10^{3}\right) \times 3^{6}} \\ & = \frac{3^{4} \times 2^{4} \times 3^{3} \times 2^{6} \times 2^{10}}{3^{3} \times 2^{3} \times 5^{3} \times 3^{6}} \\ & 3^{4 + 3 - 3 - 6} \cdot 2^{4 + 6 + 10 - 3} \cdot 5^{-3} \\ & = \frac{2^{17}}{3^{2}5^{3}} \end{align*}
$$\dfrac{9^3\times 20^2}{4\times 5^2 \times 3^5}$$
\begin{align*} \frac{9^3\times 20^2}{4\times 5^2 \times 3^5} & = \frac{3^6 4^2 5^2}{4 \times 5^2 3^5} \\ & = \frac{3^6 2^4 5^2}{2^2 5^2 3^5} \\ & = 3^{6 - 5} 2^{4 - 2} 5^{2 - 2} \\ & = 3 \times 2^2 \\ & = 12 \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{7^{b} + 7^{b - 2}}{4 \times 7^{b} + 3 \times 7^{b}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{7^{b} + 7^{b - 2}}{4 \times 7^{b} - 3 \times 7^{b}} &= \frac{7^{b}(1 + 7^{-2})}{7^{b}(4 - 3)} \\ &= \frac{(1 + 7^{-2})}{1} \\ &= \frac{1 + \frac{1}{49}}{1} \\ & = \frac{51}{49} \end{align*}

$$\dfrac{12^{y} - 96^{y}}{3^{y} + 6^{y}}$$

\begin{align*} \frac{12^{y} - 96^{y}}{3^{y} + 6^{y}} & = \frac{(4 \cdot 3)^{y} - \left(2^{5} \cdot 3\right)^{y}}{3^{y} + \left(2 \cdot 3\right)^{y}} \\ & = \frac{3^{y}\left(4^{y} - 2^{5y}\right)}{3^{y}\left(2 + 1\right)} \\ &= \frac{4^{y} - 2^{5y}}{3} \end{align*}