Exponential Operations - PSAT Math
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54 / 25 =
54 / 25 =
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25 = 5 * 5 = 52. Then 54 / 25 = 54 / 52.
Now we can subtract the exponents because the operation is division. 54 / 52 = 54 – 2 = 52 = 25. The answer is therefore 25.
25 = 5 * 5 = 52. Then 54 / 25 = 54 / 52.
Now we can subtract the exponents because the operation is division. 54 / 52 = 54 – 2 = 52 = 25. The answer is therefore 25.
- 5. Simplify the problem (x4y2/x5)3
- 5. Simplify the problem (x4y2/x5)3
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Properties of exponents suggests that when multiplying the same base, add the exponents, when dividing, subtract the exponents on bottom from those on top, and when raising an exponent to another power, multiply the exponents. Remember that (x4/x5) = x–1 = 1/x; Still using order of operations (PEMDAS) we get the following:(x4y2/x5)3= (y2/x)3 = y6/(x3).
Properties of exponents suggests that when multiplying the same base, add the exponents, when dividing, subtract the exponents on bottom from those on top, and when raising an exponent to another power, multiply the exponents. Remember that (x4/x5) = x–1 = 1/x; Still using order of operations (PEMDAS) we get the following:(x4y2/x5)3= (y2/x)3 = y6/(x3).
If
, what is the value of
?
If , what is the value of
?
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Using exponents, 27 is equal to 33. So, the equation can be rewritten:
34_x_ + 6 = (33)2_x_
34_x_ + 6 = 36_x_
When both side of an equation have the same base, the exponents must be equal. Thus:
4_x_ + 6 = 6_x_
6 = 2_x_
x = 3
Using exponents, 27 is equal to 33. So, the equation can be rewritten:
34_x_ + 6 = (33)2_x_
34_x_ + 6 = 36_x_
When both side of an equation have the same base, the exponents must be equal. Thus:
4_x_ + 6 = 6_x_
6 = 2_x_
x = 3
If _a_2 = 35 and _b_2 = 52 then _a_4 + _b_6 = ?
If _a_2 = 35 and _b_2 = 52 then _a_4 + _b_6 = ?
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_a_4 = _a_2 * _a_2 and _b_6= _b_2 * _b_2 * _b_2
Therefore _a_4 + _b_6 = 35 * 35 + 52 * 52 * 52 = 1,225 + 140,608 = 141,833
_a_4 = _a_2 * _a_2 and _b_6= _b_2 * _b_2 * _b_2
Therefore _a_4 + _b_6 = 35 * 35 + 52 * 52 * 52 = 1,225 + 140,608 = 141,833
If
, what is the value of
?
If , what is the value of
?
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Since we have two
’s in
we will need to combine the two terms.
For
this can be rewritten as

So we have
.
Or 
Divide this by
: 
Thus
or 
*Hint: If you are really unsure, you could have plugged in the numbers and found that the first choice worked in the equation.
Since we have two ’s in
we will need to combine the two terms.
For this can be rewritten as
So we have .
Or
Divide this by :
Thus or
*Hint: If you are really unsure, you could have plugged in the numbers and found that the first choice worked in the equation.
Solve for x.
23 + 2x+1 = 72
Solve for x.
23 + 2x+1 = 72
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The answer is 5.
8 + 2x+1 = 72
2x+1 = 64
2x+1 = 26
x + 1 = 6
x = 5
The answer is 5.
8 + 2x+1 = 72
2x+1 = 64
2x+1 = 26
x + 1 = 6
x = 5
What is the value of
such that
?
What is the value of such that
?
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We can solve by converting all terms to a base of two. 4, 16, and 32 can all be expressed in terms of 2 to a standard exponent value.



We can rewrite the original equation in these terms.

Simplify exponents.

Finally, combine terms.

From this equation, we can see that
.
We can solve by converting all terms to a base of two. 4, 16, and 32 can all be expressed in terms of 2 to a standard exponent value.
We can rewrite the original equation in these terms.
Simplify exponents.
Finally, combine terms.
From this equation, we can see that .
Which of the following is eqivalent to 5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) , where b is a constant?
Which of the following is eqivalent to 5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) , where b is a constant?
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We want to simplify 5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) .
Notice that we can collect the –5(b–1) terms, because they are like terms. There are 5 of them, so that means we can write –5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) as (–5(b–1))5.
To summarize thus far:
5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–1) = 5_b +(–5(_b–_1))5
It's important to interpret –5(b–1) as (–1)5(b–1) because the –1 is not raised to the (b – 1) power along with the five. This means we can rewrite the expression as follows:
5_b_ +(–5(b–1))5 = 5_b_ + (–1)(5(b–1))(5) = 5_b_ – (5(b–1))(5)
Notice that 5(b–1) and 5 both have a base of 5. This means we can apply the property of exponents which states that, in general, abac = a b+c. We can rewrite 5 as 51 and then apply this rule.
5_b_ – (5(_b–1))(5) = 5_b – (5(_b–1))(51) = 5_b – 5(_b–_1+1)
Now, we will simplify the exponent b – 1 + 1 and write it as simply b.
5_b_ – 5(b–1+1) = 5_b – 5_b = 0
The answer is 0.
We want to simplify 5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) .
Notice that we can collect the –5(b–1) terms, because they are like terms. There are 5 of them, so that means we can write –5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) – 5(b–1) as (–5(b–1))5.
To summarize thus far:
5_b_ – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–_1) – 5(_b–1) = 5_b +(–5(_b–_1))5
It's important to interpret –5(b–1) as (–1)5(b–1) because the –1 is not raised to the (b – 1) power along with the five. This means we can rewrite the expression as follows:
5_b_ +(–5(b–1))5 = 5_b_ + (–1)(5(b–1))(5) = 5_b_ – (5(b–1))(5)
Notice that 5(b–1) and 5 both have a base of 5. This means we can apply the property of exponents which states that, in general, abac = a b+c. We can rewrite 5 as 51 and then apply this rule.
5_b_ – (5(_b–1))(5) = 5_b – (5(_b–1))(51) = 5_b – 5(_b–_1+1)
Now, we will simplify the exponent b – 1 + 1 and write it as simply b.
5_b_ – 5(b–1+1) = 5_b – 5_b = 0
The answer is 0.
If r and s are positive integers, and 25left ( $5^{r}$ right $)=5^{s-2}$, then what is s in terms of r?
If r and s are positive integers, and 25left ( $5^{r}$ right $)=5^{s-2}$, then what is s in terms of r?
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25left ( $5^{r}$ right ) is equal to
which is equal to left ( $5^{r+2}$ right ). If we compare this to the original equation we get r+2=s-2rightarrow s=r+4
25left ( $5^{r}$ right ) is equal to which is equal to left ( $5^{r+2}$ right ). If we compare this to the original equation we get r+2=s-2rightarrow s=r+4
Solve for x:

Solve for x:
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Combining the powers, we get $1024=2^{x}$.
From here we can use logarithms, or simply guess and check to get x=10.
Combining the powers, we get $1024=2^{x}$.
From here we can use logarithms, or simply guess and check to get x=10.
$Ifx^2$=11, then what does $x^4$ equal?
$Ifx^2$=11, then what does $x^4$ equal?
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Simplify. All exponents must be positive.
left ( $x^{-2}$$y^{3}$ right )left ( $x^{5}$$y^{-4}$ right )
Simplify. All exponents must be positive.
left ( $x^{-2}$$y^{3}$ right )left ( $x^{5}$$y^{-4}$ right )
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Step 1: left ( $x^{-2}$$x^{5}$ right )= $x^{3}$
Step 2: left ( $y^{3}$$y^{-4}$ right )= $y^{-1}$= $\frac{1}{y}$
Step 3: (Correct Answer): $$\frac{x^{3}$$}{y}
Step 1: left ( $x^{-2}$$x^{5}$ right )= $x^{3}$
Step 2: left ( $y^{3}$$y^{-4}$ right )= $y^{-1}$= $\frac{1}{y}$
Step 3: (Correct Answer): $$\frac{x^{3}$$}{y}
Simplify. All exponents must be positive.

Simplify. All exponents must be positive.
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Step 1: $$\frac{y^{5}$$}{left ( $x^{3}$$x^{2}$ right )left right $)y^{-1}$}
Step 2: $\frac{left ( $y^{5}$$$y^{1}$ right $)}{x^{3}$$x^{2}$}
Step $3:$\frac{y^{6}$$$}{x^{5}$}
Step 1: $$\frac{y^{5}$$}{left ( $x^{3}$$x^{2}$ right )left right $)y^{-1}$}
Step 2: $\frac{left ( $y^{5}$$$y^{1}$ right $)}{x^{3}$$x^{2}$}
Step $3:$\frac{y^{6}$$$}{x^{5}$}
$\frac{left ( -11 right $)^{-8}$$}{left ( -11right $)^{12}$}
Answer must be with positive exponents only.
$\frac{left ( -11 right $)^{-8}$$}{left ( -11right $)^{12}$}
Answer must be with positive exponents only.
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Step 1:$\frac{1}{left ( -11 right $)^{12}$$left ( -11 right $)^{8}$}
Step 2: The above is equal to $\frac{1}{left ( -11 right $)^{20}$$}
Step 1:$\frac{1}{left ( -11 right $)^{12}$$left ( -11 right $)^{8}$}
Step 2: The above is equal to $\frac{1}{left ( -11 right $)^{20}$$}
Evaluate:
-left ( -3 right $)^{0}$-left ( $-3^{0}$ right )
Evaluate:
-left ( -3 right $)^{0}$-left ( $-3^{0}$ right )
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-left ( -3 right $)^{0}$= -1


-left ( -3 right $)^{0}$= -1
Simplify:

Simplify:
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Similarly 
So 
Similarly
So
If x7 / x-3/2 = xn, what is the value of n?
If x7 / x-3/2 = xn, what is the value of n?
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x7 / x-3/2 = x7 (x+3/2) based on the fact that division changes the sign of an exponent.
x7 (x+3/2) = x7+3/2 due to the additive property of exponent numbers that are multiplied.
7+3/2= 14/2 + 3/2 = 17/2 so
x7 / x-3/2 = x7+3/2 = x17/2
Since x7 / x-3/2 = xn, xn = x17/2
So n = 17/2
x7 / x-3/2 = x7 (x+3/2) based on the fact that division changes the sign of an exponent.
x7 (x+3/2) = x7+3/2 due to the additive property of exponent numbers that are multiplied.
7+3/2= 14/2 + 3/2 = 17/2 so
x7 / x-3/2 = x7+3/2 = x17/2
Since x7 / x-3/2 = xn, xn = x17/2
So n = 17/2
Simplify x2x4y/y2x
Simplify x2x4y/y2x
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-
According to the rules of exponents, one can add the exponents when adding to variables with the same base. So, x2x4 becomes x6.
-
The rules of exponents also state that if the bases are the same, one can substract the exponents when dividing. So, x6/x becomes x5. Similarly, y/y2 becomes 1/y.
-
When combining these operations, one gets x5/y.
-
According to the rules of exponents, one can add the exponents when adding to variables with the same base. So, x2x4 becomes x6.
-
The rules of exponents also state that if the bases are the same, one can substract the exponents when dividing. So, x6/x becomes x5. Similarly, y/y2 becomes 1/y.
-
When combining these operations, one gets x5/y.
How many of the following base ten numbers have a base five representation of exactly four digits?
(A) 
(B) 
(C) 
(D) 
How many of the following base ten numbers have a base five representation of exactly four digits?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
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A number in base five has powers of five as its place values; starting at the right, they are 
The lowest base five number with four digits would be
in base ten.
The lowest base five number with five digits would be
in base ten.
Therefore, a number that is expressed as a four-digit number in base five must fall in the range

Three of the four numbers - all except 100 - fall in this range.
A number in base five has powers of five as its place values; starting at the right, they are
The lowest base five number with four digits would be
in base ten.
The lowest base five number with five digits would be
in base ten.
Therefore, a number that is expressed as a four-digit number in base five must fall in the range
Three of the four numbers - all except 100 - fall in this range.