Zero and Negative Exponents
Raising a Number to the Zero Power Anything raised to the zero power is 1, except 0 to the zero power. 0 to the zero power is undefined.
Negative Exponents A negative exponent is telling you to divide by that number – or find the reciprocal of that number, then raise it to the power indicated. For example, 5 -2 is telling you to divide by 5 2 or to flip 5 2 ( ), then square the 5 → ( ). In the case of variables, you can just move it from top (numerator) to bottom (denominator) or vice versa. For example, would change to
5050 A.0 B.1 C.-1 D.5 [Default] [MC Any] [MC All]
-3 0 A.0 B.1 C.-1 D.3 [Default] [MC Any] [MC All]
(-6) 0 A.0 B.1 C.-1 D.-6 [Default] [MC Any] [MC All]
3 -2 [Default] [MC Any] [MC All]
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5 ∙ 10 0 A.5 ∙ 0 = 0 B.5 ∙ 1 = 5 C.5 ∙ 10 = 50 D.5 ∙ -1 = -5 [Default] [MC Any] [MC All]
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Try these… 1. A square foot is 3 –2 square yards. Simplify this expression. Simplify –6 3. (–7) – – –121
Try these… 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 Simplify the following. There should be no negative exponents