February 14 th copyright2009merrydavidson

RATIONAL EXPONENTS 1) Anything to a power of zero =. 1 1

RATIONAL EXPONENTS What is: a)x times x? b)x 2 times x 2 ? x2x2 x4x4 What did you do to the power to get the answer? Added the exponents

RULE: 2) When you are multiplying expressions with the same variables you ADD the exponents. (a m )(a n ) = a m+n a) (2x 2 y 3 )(-5x 4 y 2 ) = -10x 6 y 5

RULE: 2) When you are multiplying expressions with the same variables you ADD the exponents. (a m )(a n ) = a m+n b) (5xy 2 z 4 )(-yz) = -5xy 3 z 5

RULE: 2) When you are multiplying expressions with the same variables you ADD the exponents. (a m )(a n ) = a m+n c) (-3x 2 y 0 )(2xy 2 ) = -6x 3 y 2

RATIONAL EXPONENTS What is (2x) 2 ? (2X)(2X) How could you get the answer by skipping the middle step? Raise the # to the power & Multiply the exponents of the variables 4x 2

RULE: 3) When you are raising to a power you MULTIPLY the exponents of the variables. (a m ) n = a mn (ab) m = a m b m a) (-5p 2 s 4 ) 3 = -125p 6 s 12

RULE: 3) When you are raising to a power you MULTIPLY the exponents of the variables. (a m ) n = a mn (ab) m = a m b m b) =

RULE: 4) When you are DIVIDING expressions with the same variables you SUBTRACT the exponents. a) =

RULE: 4) When you are DIVIDING expressions with the same variables you SUBTRACT the exponents. b) =

RULE: 4) When you are DIVIDING expressions with the same variables you SUBTRACT the exponents. c) =

RULE: 4) When you are DIVIDING expressions with the same variables you SUBTRACT the exponents. d) =

RULE: 5) When you have a NEGATIVE EXPONENT you move the variable to the other side of the fraction line. a) = a -n =

Now do the next 3 examples on your worksheet!

Worksheet for HW