Zero and Negative EXPONENTS

• A nonzero number to the zero power is 1:

• Basically that means: ANYTHING RAISED TO THE ZERO POWER (EXCEPT ZER0) IS 1!!!!

0 1, 0a a

030 1 018 1

• A nonzero number to the zero power is 1:

• Basically that means: ANYTHING RAISED TO THE ZERO POWER (EXCEPT ZER0) IS 1!!!!

0 1, 0a a

We can not have negative

exponents, so we have two rules dealing with negatives!!

Negative Exponents

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

1nn

aa

na na

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

na na

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

na na

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

na na

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

na na

1st Negative Exponent Rule:

is just the reciprocal of

And when we do the reciprocal, there will not be a negative in the denominator.

na na

Let’s Try Some Examples!!

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

5 x 1

5x=

34 = 1

64

25a

=

2

1

25a

4 3 k =4

3k

13

5

=5

3

4 7x y =4

7

x

y

Negative Exponents

• 2nd Negative Exponent Rule

• You do not want a negative exponent in the denominator.

1 nna

a

Try these !!

1.

2.

3.

4.

2

1

3

2

8

m

5

1

2x

5

1

3x

=

=

=

=

23 = 9

28m

5

2

x

5243x

Now lets put it all together!!

Classwork

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

43

11

84

3 22 2

43x

2 68x y

3 1

1

9x y

10 14

1

4x y

12

1

4

2

x

x

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

=

1

81

32

1

2

4

3

x

2 6

8

x y

3

9

x y

10

144

x

y

3

1

2x

Homework