Properties of Exponents Worksheets
When we take our time to learn the nature and properties of exponents it can really speed up our ability to apply operations across a system that contains exponents. The properties that we will explore here are not a hug stretch from what we have already learned. As we know exponents are a simple way to state that a value is multiplied by itself a fixed number of times. This form of notation saves us a great deal of time in some circumstances. The biggest mistake I find that students make when applying the different properties that we will explore here is that they focus entirely on the value of power and forget entirely, in some cases, about the base number. These worksheets will introduce you as to how to process a large number of calculations that involves exponents.
Aligned Standard: HSA-SSE.A.3c
- Exponent Products Step-by-step Lesson- Learn to simplify products of exponents; includes negative exponents.
- Guided Lesson - We go over the operations of quotients and products with exponents.
- Guided Lesson Explanation - I show you the standard format for multiplication and division with exponents. Then we work that into the actual problem.
- Practice Worksheet - Find five products and five quotients of exponents.
- Laws of Rational Exponents Five Pack - These are more advanced. They include negative fractional exponents.
- Matching Worksheet - Match each problem to the final outcome of its operations.
- Answer Keys - These are for all the unlocked materials above.
Homework Sheets
The division of exponents really confuses kids when they first see it.
- Homework 1 - Simplify. Express your answer using a positive exponent.
- Homework 2 - Divide the numerator by the denominator.
- Homework 3 - Multiply the r's, remembering to add the exponents.
Practice Worksheets
The best way to get kids to remember the operations is rote memorization, I find any way.
- Practice 1 - To multiply powers with the same base, add their exponents. A negative exponent can be written as a positive exponent in the denominator.
- Practice 2 - Simplify. Express your answers using positive exponents.
- Practice 3 - Is that a Jack in the Box?
Math Skill Quizzes
The quizzes really help the skills to develop further.
- Quiz 1 - Don't let the parentheses confuse you on this one.
- Quiz 2 - The double fractional exponents have to be thought through before you go after them.
- Quiz 3 - This serves as a nice solid review.
What Are the Properties of Exponents?
Have you ever noticed a '^' sign on computers and a calculator? It is not a misrepresentation of the alphabet 'V.' This inverted V represents an operation of math. Besides addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication there is one more mathematical operation known as exponentiation. 72 means 7 to the power of 2, or to simply put: 72 = 7 X 7 = 49. 7 is the base, and 2 is its exponent. Exponents show the number of times to use the base factor. Let's dig deeper into the properties of exponents. Five Properties of Exponents - To get a clearer idea about exponents, we need to dissect the five properties of exponents. Let us look at them one by one:
Product Of Powers - Here is the formula for the product of powers: (xa)(xb) = x(a + b)
To put it in words, when you multiply exponentials with the same base, their exponents add up. For example, if you have (x2)(x 3), you will add up the exponents of 'x'. that is we get x5, which is same as adding 3 + 2.
Power To Power - Here is the formula for power to power: (x a)b
When you get a power to power, you multiply the exponents. For example, if you have (x 4)2, it would mean to multiply x4 two times. The result we will get is x (2*4) = x8
Quotient Of Powers - Here is the formula for quotient of powers: (xa)/(xb)= x(a - b)
Let’s see how this works. When you have (x4)/(x3), it simply means to subtract the exponent of numerator from the exponent of denominator. That is, the result you will get is x(4-3) = x1
Power of A Product - To find the power of a product we use the formula: (ab)m = am .bm
For example, if you have (3x)2, then you split the base and multiply it the number of times of exponents. That is, (3x)2 = 32 X 2 = 9 x 2
Power of A Quotient - Power of a quotient is similar to power of product. Suppose you are dividing two expressions: 203 / 43. Since they share the same exponent we can rewrite it as: (20/4)3. This further simplifies to (5)3.
How is This Skill Used in The Real World?
This skill lends itself to the financial, scientific, and technology communities. Being able to model exponential growth is a critical skill for all these industries. In the financial industry this is created when attempting to understand compounding interest. If calculations are off, it can make or break a bank. Scientists model population size and the future of it through this technique as well. Those projections have significant ramification on the state and local governments in those areas. This can also be reversed to look at the potential for exponential decay that can show the inverse of the two examples we have discussed. Decay is used to model the movement of light and sound wave trajectories for communication purposes in the communication industries. Most recently this technique has been used to model the growth and decline of coronavirus. Government leaders made closing and reopening decisions almost entirely based on how the exponential data was tracking to determine the significance of personal behavior changes. The curve was also used to demonstrate that social distancing and facemasks were effective towards reducing the spread of the disease.