1. Exponents, Parentheses, and the Order of Operations
MTH Algebra
Exponents, Parentheses, and the Order of Operations
CHAPTER 1 Section 9

2. Learn the Meaning of Exponents
General bn
b is called the base, n is called the exponent
n factors of b
(b)(b)(b)(b)….(b) = bn
b4 = (b)(b)(b)(b) or bbbb
x3 = (x)(x)(x) or xxx

3. Learning the Meaning of Exponents
Whenever we see a variable or number without an exponent, we always assume that the exponent is 1
An exponent refers only to the number or variable that directly precedes it … unless parentheses are used to indicate otherwise.
-x not the same as (-x)2
(-)(x)(x) (-x)(-x)

4. Learn the Meaning of Exponents32
3 is called the base, 2 is called the exponent
2 factors of 3
(3)(3) = 9 53
5 is called the base, 3 is called the exponent
3 factors of 5
(5)(5)(5) = 125

5. Expamples
#17 pg 77) 52 “5 squared” (5)(5) 5 is the base, 2 is the exponent 25 “5 to the second power” 2 factors of 5 #21 pg “7 cubed” (7)(7)(7) “7 to the third power” (49)(7) 3 factors of is the base, 3 is the exponent Exp: b3 = b·b·b “b cubed” Exp: x4 = x·x·x·x “x to the fourth”

6. Examples
#28) 53 #19) 17 (5)(5)(5) (1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1) (25)(5) #20) 41 #37) (4) 4

7. Exponential Notation Write as an exponent: xyxx = x3y xyzzy = xy2z2
3aabb b = 3a2b3
5xyyyy = 5xy3
(4)(4)rrs = 42r2s
(5)(5)(5)mmn = 53m2n

8. Difference between –x2 and (-x)2
Exponents refer to the number or variable directly preceding it unless it is in parenthesis
EXP: -x2 only the x will be squared (-)(x)(x)
“negative x squared” or “the opposite of x squared”
EXP: (-x)2 all will be squared (-x)(-x)
“negative x, quantity squared”
EXP: = (-)(6)(6) = -36
EXP: (-6)2 = (-6)(-6)= 36

9. Examples
#30) (-7)2 even neg. = pos. result (-7)(-7) -49 Exp) (-4)4 even neg. = pos result (-4)(-4)(-4)(-4) (16)(-4)(-4) (-64)(-4) 256

10. Examples
exp) -102 exp) (-10)2 (-)(10)(10) (-10)(-10) exp) -43 exp) (-4)3 odd neg. = neg. result (-)(4) (4)(4) (-4)(-4)(-4) -64 (16)(-4) -64

11. Examples
exp) (-3)4 exp) -(3)4 even neg. = pos. result (-3)(-3)(-3)(-3) (-)(3)(3)(3)(3) (9)(-3)(-3) (-3)(3)(3)(3) (-27)(-3) (-9)(3)(3) 81 (-27)(3) -81

12. Difference between –x2 and (-x)2
EXP: (-5)2 = (-5)(-5) = 25
EXP: -(5)2 = -(5)(5) = -25
EXP: -23 = -(2)(2)(2) = -8
EXP: (-2)3 = (-2)(-2)(-2) = -8
EXP: -24 = -(2)(2)(2)(2) = -16
EXP: (-2)4 = (-2)(-2)(-2)(-2) = 16
EXP: (-7)2 = (-7)(-7) = 49
EXP: (-3)3 = (-3)(-3)(-3) = -27

13. Calculator Help using your calculator is on page 70
EXP: -102 = -(10)(10) = -100
EXP: (-10)2 = (-10)(-10) = 100
EXP: -43 = -(4)(4)(4) = -64
EXP: (-4)3 = (-4)(-4)(-4) = -64

14. Learning the Order of Operations
Evaluate within grouping symbols { }, [ ], ( ) innermost parenthesis first
Evaluate exponents
Multiply or Divide from left to right
Add or Subtract from left to right
Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally – PEMDAS
Remember its multiply or divide , add or subtract
Parenthesis can be used to change the order of operations or to clarify the order
EXP: · 4 = 2 + (3 · 4) = = 14

15. Learning the Order of Operations
Nested Parenthesis is one set inside another
Use the innermost parenthesis first.
EXP: EXP:

16. Examples
EXP: EXP:

17. Examples
EXP: EXP:

18. Examples
EXP: EXP:

19. Examples
EXP:

20. Examples
Write the following statement as mathematical expressions using parentheses and brackets and then evaluate.
Multiply 9 by 6, add 7 to this product. Subtract 12 from the sum. Divide this difference by 5.
[[(9 * 6) + 7] – 12] ÷ 5
49/5

21. Evaluate Expressions Containing Variables

22. Evaluate Expressions Containing Variables

23. Evaluate Expressions Containing Variables

24. Evaluate Expressions Containing Variables

25. HOMEWORK 1.9
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#18, 21, 29, 35, 43, 57, 61, 75, 79, 83, 87, 95