Algebra II : Simplifying Exponents

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Algebra II

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Simplifying Exponents

\(\displaystyle 9x\cdot (2x)^3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -72x^4\)

\(\displaystyle 68x^2\)

\(\displaystyle 72x^4\)

\(\displaystyle 72x^3\)

\(\displaystyle 54x^4\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 72x^4\)

Explanation:

First, simplify the second expression. When there is an exponent outside the parentheses, it must be distributed to every term in the parentheses:

\(\displaystyle (2x)^3=8x^3\).

Then multiply the two terms:

\(\displaystyle 9x\cdot 8x^3=72x^4\).

Example Question #122 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Divide the exponents:  \(\displaystyle \frac{2^7}{4^{10}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle (\frac{1}{2})^{13}\)

\(\displaystyle 4^4\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{8}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2^{13}}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2^{13}}\)

Explanation:

In order to divide the exponents, we must have the same bases. 

Convert the base 4 to 2 by rewriting the four as two squared.

\(\displaystyle \frac{2^7}{4^{10}}=\frac{2^7}{2^{2(10)}}= \frac{2^7}{2^{20}}\)

Now that the bases are the same, subtract the power on the numerator with the denominator.

\(\displaystyle 2^{7-20}= 2^{-13} = \frac{1}{2^{13}}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2^{13}}\)

Example Question #122 : Simplifying Exponents

Simplify: \(\displaystyle 9^9\div9^{-9}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 9^{-18}\)

\(\displaystyle 9\)

\(\displaystyle 9^{-81}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 9^{18}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 9^{18}\)

Explanation:

When dividing exponents with the same base, we subtract the exponents while keeping the base the same.

\(\displaystyle 9^9\div9^{-9}=9^{9-(-9)}=9^{18}\)

Example Question #124 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle \frac{64x^{-3}y^5z^9}{80x^2y^{-2}z^3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{y^7z^6}{5x^5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{2y^7z^6}{5x^5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4y^7z^6}{5x^5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4y^7z^6}{x^5}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{4y^7z^3}{5x^5}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4y^7z^6}{5x^5}\)

Explanation:

To simplify a fraction like this, I look at the like terms separately and simplify those, putting everything together at the end.

First,

\(\displaystyle \frac{64}{80}=\frac{4}{5}\).

Then,

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^{-3}}{x^2}=\frac{1}{x^5}\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{y^{5}}{y^{-2}}=y^7\).

\(\displaystyle \frac{z^9}{z^3}=z^6\).

Put those all together to get your answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{4y^7z^6}{5x^5}.\)

Example Question #125 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

\(\displaystyle 4x\cdot (-2x^3)\cdot (x^{-2})\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle -8x^2\)

\(\displaystyle -2x^2\)

\(\displaystyle -8x\)

\(\displaystyle 8x^2\)

\(\displaystyle -8x^3\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle -8x^2\)

Explanation:

Multiply the like terms. Remember that when multiplying with exponents and bases are the same, add exponents.

Therefore,

\(\displaystyle 4(-2)=-8\)

and 

\(\displaystyle x(x^3)(x^{-2})=x^2\).

Thus, your answer is:

\(\displaystyle -8x^2.\)

Example Question #123 : Simplifying Exponents

Simplify:

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^7y^4+x^8y^3+x^3y^7+x^3}{x^3y^3}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle x^1y^4+y^5+x^4+y^{-3}\)

None of these

\(\displaystyle x^4y^1+x^5+y^4+y^{-3}\)

\(\displaystyle x^4y^1+x^5+y^4+y^{3}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle x^4y^1+x^5+y^4+y^{-3}\)

Explanation:

When dividing variables with exponents, the exponents are subtracted

Thus

\(\displaystyle \frac{x^7y^4+x^8y^3+x^3y^7+x^3}{x^3y^3}\)

becomes

\(\displaystyle x^4y^1+x^5+y^4+y^{-3}\)

 

 

Example Question #127 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Simplify: \(\displaystyle 49^8\div7^{-8}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 2\)

\(\displaystyle 7^{24}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{2}\)

\(\displaystyle 7^{-64}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{7}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 7^{24}\)

Explanation:

Although the bases are not the same, we know that \(\displaystyle 49=7^2\). Therefore, \(\displaystyle 49^8=(7^2)^8=7^{16}\). With the same bases, we now can subtract the exponents while keeping the base the same.

\(\displaystyle 7^{16}\div7^{-8}=7^{16-(-8)}=7^{24}\)

Example Question #128 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Multiply the following exponents:  \(\displaystyle 4^{30}\cdot 16^{12}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 20^{42}\)

\(\displaystyle 4^{54}\)

\(\displaystyle 4^{132}\)

\(\displaystyle 64^{18}\)

\(\displaystyle \textup{The answer does not exist.}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 4^{54}\)

Explanation:

Notice that we can rewrite the second term in terms of the base of four.  Sixteen is equal to four squared.

\(\displaystyle 16= 4^2\)

We can replace this term with 16 in order to multiply, and then add the exponents.

\(\displaystyle 4^{30}\cdot 16^{12} =4^{30}\cdot 4^{2(12)} =4^{30}\cdot 4^{24}\)

According to the rule of exponents, whenever powers of a similar base are multiplied, the exponents can be added.

\(\displaystyle x^A \cdot x^B = x^{( A + B )}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle 4^{54}\)

Example Question #129 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Divide:   \(\displaystyle \frac{4^{34}}{4^{36}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{16}\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 4^{70}\)

\(\displaystyle 16\)

\(\displaystyle 8\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{16}\)

Explanation:

When dividing powers of a similar base, the exponents can be subtracted.

\(\displaystyle \frac{4^{34}}{4^{36}} = 4^{34-36}=4^{-2}\)

Simplify the negative exponent.

\(\displaystyle x^{-n} = \frac{1}{x^n}\)

\(\displaystyle 4^{-2} = \frac{1}{4^2} = \frac{1}{16}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{16}\)

Example Question #130 : Multiplying And Dividing Exponents

Evaluate:  \(\displaystyle \frac{3^{15}}{27^{18}}\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^9}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{9^{117}}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{9^3}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{9^{39}}\)

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^{39}}\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^{39}}\)

Explanation:

In order to simplify this, we will need to rewrite the base 27 as a common base of three in order to be able to subtract the exponents.

\(\displaystyle 27 = 3^3\)

Rewrite the fraction.

\(\displaystyle \frac{3^{15}}{27^{18}} = \frac{3^{15}}{3^{3(18)}} = \frac{3^{15}}{3^{54}}\)

Subtract the exponents.

\(\displaystyle 3^{15-54} = 3^{-39}=\frac{1}{3^{39}}\)

The answer is:  \(\displaystyle \frac{1}{3^{39}}\)

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