ISEE Upper Level Math : How to multiply exponents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Exponential Operations

\dpi{100} (7-4)^{3}=

Possible Answers:

\dpi{100} 3

\dpi{100} 4

\dpi{100} 27

\dpi{100} 9

Correct answer:

\dpi{100} 27

Explanation:

Subtract the numbers inside the parentheses first.  This leaves you with 3, which you then raise to the 3rd power:

\dpi{100} 3\times 3\times 3=27

Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Exponents

Evaluate:

Possible Answers:

The expression is undefined.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Any nonzero number taken to the power of 0 is equal to 1, so

Example Question #3 : How To Multiply Exponents

Multiply:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Use the FOIL method:

Example Question #2 : How To Multiply Exponents

Evaluate:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the power rule for exponents we can write:

 

 

That means; to raise a power to a power we need to multiply the exponents. In addition, based on the product rule for exponents in order to multiply two exponential terms with the same base, we need to add their exponents:

 

 

So we can write:

 

Example Question #3 : How To Multiply Exponents

Simplify:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the product rule for exponents in order to multiply two exponential terms with the same base, add their exponents:

 

 

So we can write:

 

Example Question #4 : How To Multiply Exponents

Evaluate:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the power rule for exponents we can write:

 

 

That means; to raise a power to a power we need to multiply the exponents. In addition, based on the product rule for exponents, in order to multiply two exponential terms with the same base we need to add their exponents:

 

 

So we can write:

 

 

in order to divide two exponents with the same base, we can keep the base and subtract the powers. So we get:

 

Example Question #5 : How To Multiply Exponents

Evaluate:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the negative exponent rule we have:

 

which says negative exponents in the numerator get moved to the denominator and become positive exponents. And negative exponents in the denominator get moved to the numerator and become positive exponents. So we can write:

 

 

In addition, based on the power rule for exponents we can write:

 

 

That means; to raise a power to a power we need to multiply the exponents. We also know that when a fraction is raised to a power, the numerator and the denominator are both raised to that power. So we can write:

 

Example Question #6 : How To Multiply Exponents

If , find the value of:

 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the power rule for exponents we can write:

 

 

That means; to raise a power to a power we need to multiply the exponents. So we can write:

 

 

Substitute and we get:

 

Example Question #21 : Exponential Operations

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Based on the power rule, we know that in order to raise a power to a power we need to multiply the exponents, i.e.

.

 

Example Question #21 : Exponential Operations

Simplify:

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The Negative Exponent Rule says .

The power rule says that, in order to raise a power to a power, we need to multiply the exponents, i.e. .

 

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