1. Learn to evaluate expressions with exponents.
Intro to Exponents
Learn to evaluate expressions with exponents.

2. Review
Find the product.
1. 5 • 5 • 5 • 5
625
2. 3 • 3 • 3 27
3. (–7) • (–7) • (–7)
–343
4. 9 • 9 81

3. The term 27 is called a power
The term 27 is called a power. If a number is in exponential form, the exponent represents how many times the base is to be used as a factor.
Exponent
Base 2 7

4. Write in exponential form.
Identify how many times 4 is a factor.
4 • 4 • 4 • 4 = 44
B. d • d • d • d • d
Identify how many times d is a factor.
d • d • d • d • d = d5
Read 44 as “4 to the 4th power.”
Reading Math

5. Write in exponential form.
Identify how many times –6 is a factor.
C. (–6) • (–6) • (–6)
(–6) • (–6) • (–6) = (–6)3
Remember to keep the – sign inside the ( )! If it is outside, your answer will be negative even if you have an even number of – signs.
D. 5 • 5
5 • 5 = 52
Identify how many times 5 is a factor.

6. Write in exponential form.
A. x • x • x • x • x
Identify how many times x is a factor.
x • x • x • x • x = x5
B. d • d • d
Identify how many times d is a factor.
d • d • d = d3

7. Evaluate.
Find the product of five 3’s.
A. 35
35 = 3 • 3 • 3 • 3 • 3
= 243
B. (–3)5
Find the product of five –3’s.
= (–3) • (–3) • (–3) • (–3) • (–3)
(–3)5
= –243
Helpful Hint
Always use parentheses to raise a negative number to a power.

8. Evaluate. Find the product of four 7’s. C. 74 74 = 7 • 7 • 7 • 7
= 2401
D. (–9)3
Find the product of three –9’s.
= (–9) • (–9) • (–9)
(–9)3
= –729

9. Simplifying Expressions
Containing Powers
Simplify (25 – 32 ) + 6(4)
= (32 – 9) + 6(4)
Evaluate the exponents.
= (23) + 6(4)
Subtract inside the parentheses. =
Multiply from left to right.
= 47
Add from left to right.

10. Simplify (32 – 82) + 2 • 3 = (9 – 64) + 2 • 3 = (–55) + 2 • 3
Evaluate the exponents.
= (–55) + 2 • 3
Subtract inside the parentheses.
= –55 + 6
Multiply from left to right.
= –49
Add from left to right.