All PSAT Math Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #31 : Exponents
The key to this problem is understanding how exponents divide. When two exponents have the same base, then the exponent on the bottom can simply be subtracted from the exponent on top. I.e.:
Keeping this in mind, we simply break the problem down into prime factors, multiply out the exponents, and solve.
Example Question #6 : How To Divide Exponents
Simplify
None
Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents.
Example Question #1 : Exponential Operations
Which of the following is equal to the expression , where
xyz ≠ 0?
z/(xy)
xy
z
1/y
xyz
1/y
(xy)4 can be rewritten as x4y4 and z0 = 1 because a number to the zero power equals 1. After simplifying, you get 1/y.
Example Question #2 : How To Divide Exponents
If , then
Cannot be determined
Start by simplifying the numerator and denominator separately. In the numerator, (c3)2 is equal to c6. In the denominator, c2 * c4 equals c6 as well. Dividing the numerator by the denominator, c6/c6, gives an answer of 1, because the numerator and the denominator are the equivalent.
Example Question #2 : Exponential Operations
If , which of the following is equal to ?
a18
a4
a6
a
The answer cannot be determined from the above information
a18
The numerator is simplified to (by adding the exponents), then cube the result. a24/a6 can then be simplified to .
Example Question #3 : How To Divide Exponents
The easiest way to solve this is to simplify the fraction as much as possible. We can do this by factoring out the greatest common factor of the numerator and the denominator. In this case, the GCF is .
Now, we can cancel out the from the numerator and denominator and continue simplifying the expression.
Example Question #1 : Exponents
If (300)(400) = 12 * 10n, n =
7
12
2
4
3
4
(300)(400) = 120,000 or 12 * 104.
Example Question #2 : Exponential Operations
(2x103) x (2x106) x (2x1012) = ?
6x1023
8x1023
8x1021
6x1021
8x1021
The three two multiply to become 8 and the powers of ten can be added to become 1021.
Example Question #61 : Exponents
Which of the following is equivalent to
and can be multiplied together to give you which is the first part of our answer. When you multiply exponents with the same base (in this case, ), you add the exponents. In this case, should give us because . The answer is
Example Question #1 : How To Multiply Exponents
If 3x = 27, then 22x = ?
32
9
64
3
8
64
- Solve for x in 3x = 27. x = 3 because 3 * 3 * 3 = 27.
- Since x = 3, one can substitute x for 3 in 22x
- Now, the expression is 22*3
- This expression can be interpreted as 22 * 22 * 22. Since 22 = 4, the expression can be simplified to become 4 * 4 * 4 = 64.
- You can also multiply the powers to simplify the expression. When you multiply the powers, you get 26, or 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2 * 2
- 26 = 64.
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