POWERS OF POWERS, PRODUCTS & QUOTIENTS
1. Show why each of the following is true.
4
3 4 2 24
a) (2 ) =2 12 4
b) (2 × 3) = 2 × 3 4 4
c) = 4
3 3
2. State the value that should be placed in each box.
3 5 5 3 6 24
a) (2 ) =2 b) (x ) =x c) ( 34 ) = d) (y )
3
= y18
7
4 5 57 a a9
e) ( xy ) = x4 y f) ( 3 pq ) = 310 p10 q10 g) = h) =
6 6 b b9
3. State the value that should be placed in each box.
4
6 2 6 2 x8 x a2 a14
a) (x y )
4
=x y 12
b) ( 35 x y 4
) = 1225 x y 12
c) 3 = 12 d) 3 =
b 21
y y b
p× p× p× p× p× p
4. The table on the right contains five expressions. Identify all of p2 × p2 × p2
these expressions that are equivalent to ( p 3 ) .
2 p3 × p3
p5
p6
5. Use at least one exponent rule to find an equivalent/simplified expression.
7 2
5 4 3 6 x 1
a) (6 ) b) (x ) c) ( xy )
8
d) e) ( 2x)
3
f) xy
2
y
3 3 3
a 3 5 x8 3 6 3 4 6 −5
g)
4
h) (x y )
2
i) 4 j) (4 a b )
2
k) ( −2mn ) l) 8
y p
6. State whether the two expressions are equivalent or not equivalent.
4 8
6 2 3 4 4 4 2 8 m10 n5
a) (x ) and x ( ) b) (x y )
2
and xy ( ) c) 14 and 7
n m
7. Use at least one exponent rule to find an equivalent/simplified expression and then evaluate
for x = −1 and y = 2 .
3 2 3 4
x 2 x5 4 1
a) b) ( 3xy )
4
c) ( x y)
2
d) 3 e) 2 f) x5 y 2
2
y y y
8. Express 43 as a power with a base of 2.
9. Express 254 as a power with a base of 5.
10. Express 27 2 as a power with a base of 3.
4
1 1
11. Express as a power with a base of .
81 3
12. Without actually calculating the value of either power, show that 163 is equal to 46 .
13. Without actually calculating the value of either power, show that 5183 is equal to 12561 .
14. Write as a single power and then evaluate. Express all answers in exact form.
2 3 −2 −1 −3 −4
a) (2 ) b) ( 32 ) c) (4 ) d) (−2) 2
4
15. Simplify ( x 2 ) .
3
5
4
(
16. Simplify ( m 2 n3 )
2
) .
5
( a3 )2
17. Simplify .
( b2 )4
18. Kendra needs to quickly determine whether 340 is greater than or less than 430 , but she does not
have access to a calculator. How can she use her knowledge that 34 = 81 and 43 = 64 to solve
her problem. Which power has the greater value?
19. A cube has a side length of x 4 cm.
a) Express the volume of the cube as a power of a power.
b) Express the volume of the cube in simplified form.
c) Determine an expression for the surface area of the cube in simplified form.
20. Simplify. Express all answers using positive exponents.
5 −2 −3 −4 −4 −4 3 −2 4 −3 −6
a) (a ) b) (x ) c) (x −2
y −3 ) d) (a b ) e) ( 3 p −4 q 2 ) f) ( −2xy )
21. Simplify. Express all answers using positive exponents.
3 2 3 −3
x5 a −4 m −5 x −4
a) −1 b) −3 c) 4 d) −2
y b n y
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
1. a) One possible explanation is as follows:
3 4
(2 ) = 23 × 23 × 23 × 23
= (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2)
= 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2× 2
= 212
b) One possible explanation is as follows:
4
( 2 × 3) = ( 2 × 3) × ( 2 × 3) × ( 2 × 3) × ( 2 × 3)
= 2 × 3× 2 × 3× 2 × 3× 2 × 3
= 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 3× 3× 3× 3
= ( 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 ) × ( 3 × 3 × 3 × 3)
= 24 × 34
ANSWERS
c) One possible explanation is as follows:
4
2 2 2 2 2
= × × ×
3 3 3 3 3
2× 2× 2× 2
=
3× 3× 3× 3
24
= 4
3
2. a) 15 b) 15 c) 3 d) 6 e) 4 f) 10 g) 7 h) 9
3. a) 8 b) 8 c) 32 d) 7
4. p × p × p × p × p × p , p 2 × p 2 × p 2 , p 3 × p 3 , p 6
x7 1 2 2 a3 x 24
5. a) 620 b) x18 c) x8 y 8 d) e) 8 x3 f) x y g) h) x10 y15 i)
y7 4 64 y12
125
j) 4096a 9b18 k) 64m6 n 24 l) −
p 24
6. a) equivalent b) equivalent c) not equivalent
x3 1 4 4 4 2 x10 1 64
7. a) 3 ; − b) 81x y ; 1296 c) x y ; 4 d) 6 ; e) ;1
y 8 y 64 y6
1 20 8
f) x y ; 16
16
8. 26
9. 58
10. 36
16
1
11.
3
3
12. 163 = ( 4 2 )
= 46
13. 5183 = 53×61
61
= ( 53 )
= 12561
ANSWERS
1 1
14. a) 26 ; 64 b) 3−4 ; c) 43 ; 64 d) (−2) −8 ;
81 256
15. x 24
16. m80 n120
a 30
17.
b40
10 10
18. 340 can be expressed as ( 34 ) . 430 can be expressed as ( 43 ) . Since Kendra knows that
10 10
34 > 43 , she can conclude that ( 34 ) > ( 43 ) . Therefore, 340 is greater than 430 .
4 3
19. a) (x ) cm3 b) x12 cm3 c) 6 x8 cm 2
1 a8 81q8 y18
20. a) b) x12 c) x8 y12 d) e) f)
a10 b6 p16 64 x 6
15 3 b6 1 x12
21. a) x y b) 8 c) 15 12 d) 6
a m n y
