Zero and Negative Exponents

Objectives and Properties Be able to evaluate powers that have zero exponents. Be able to evaluate powers that have negative exponents. Rewrite expressions so that exponents are positive. Apply the multiplication properties of exponents to problems involving zero exponents and negative exponents.

Zero Exponents By applying the product of powers property to the following example, we find that: Zero Property of Exponents A nonzero number to the zero power is 1: We can then divide both sides of the equation by 37 to determine the value of 30

Examples Evaluate the following expressions. Solutions

Negative Exponents By applying the product of powers property to the following example, we find that: We can then divide both sides of the equation by an to determine the value of a-n

Examples Evaluate the following expressions. Rewrite the following expressions using positive exponents. Solutions

You Try It Evaluate the following expressions. Rewrite the following expressions with positive exponents.

Problem 1

Problem 2