1. Zero and Negative Exponents

2. 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.
I’ll explain why later.

3. Negative Exponents
A negative exponent is telling you to find the reciprocal of that number, then raise it to the power indicated.
For example, 5-2 is telling you 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

4. Examples
1. 50
2. -30
3. (-6) 0
4. 3-2 5.
1. 1
2. -1
3. 1
4. 1/9
5. 9/4
6. 5
5 • 100

5. More Examples
5ac-5
3/(7ab5c2d4)
6/(ac3)
5a/c5

6. Try these…
1. A square foot is 3–2 square yards. Simplify this expression.
Simplify.
2. 2–6
3. (–7)–3
4. 60 1
5. –112
–121

7. 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. 8. 9.