What are Exponents?

What are Exponents?

Note:

Did you know that another word for 'exponent' is 'power'? To learn the meaning of these words and to see some special cases involving exponents, check out this tutorial!

Keywords:

  • definition
  • exponents
  • power
  • exponent
  • positive power
  • negative power
  • working with exponents
  • zero power

Background Tutorials

  • Evaluate expressions at specific values of their variables. Include expressions that arise from formulas used in real-world problems. Perform arithmetic operations, including those involving whole-number exponents, in the conventional order when there are no parentheses to specify a particular order (Order of Operations).

      • What is a Variable?What is a Variable?

      What is a Variable?

      You can't do algebra without working with variables, but variables can be confusing. If you've ever wondered what variables are, then this tutorial is for you!

  • Understand that multiplication is extended from fractions to rational numbers by requiring that operations continue to satisfy the properties of operations, particularly the distributive property, leading to products such as (-1)(-1) = 1 and the rules for multiplying signed numbers. Interpret products of rational numbers by describing real-world contexts.

      • How Do You Figure Out the Sign of a Product or Quotient?How Do You Figure Out the Sign of a Product or Quotient?

      How Do You Figure Out the Sign of a Product or Quotient?

      Multiplying and dividing numbers takes a good amount of thinking, and it's easy to make a mistake. But you can make sure that you're on the right track if you check whether the answer should be positive or negative. In this tutorial you'll see exactly how to tell if your answer will be positive or negative, even if you don't know the exact value of the answer. That way you'll always be able to check your answers!

  • Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions.

      • What Do You Do With a Zero Exponent?What Do You Do With a Zero Exponent?

      What Do You Do With a Zero Exponent?

      A lot of people get a little uneasy when they see 0, especially when that 0 is the exponent in some expression. After all, there seem to be so many rules about 0, and so many special cases where you're not allowed to do something. Well it turns out that a zero in the exponent is one of the best things that you can have, because it makes the expression really easy to figure out. Watch this tutorial, and next time you see 0 in the exponent, you'll know exactly what to do!

      • What Do You Do With a Negative Exponent?What Do You Do With a Negative Exponent?

      What Do You Do With a Negative Exponent?

      Do you ever panic when you see a negative number in the exponent of some mathematical expression? Well if you do, then panic no more! This tutorial will help you overcome your fear, and will help you understand what negative exponents actually mean :)

Further Exploration

  • Know and apply the properties of integer exponents to generate equivalent numerical expressions.

      • What's the Product of Powers Rule?What's the Product of Powers Rule?

      What's the Product of Powers Rule?

      Working with exponents can be lots of fun, as long as you understand how they work. In this tutorial you'll see how exponents add when you multiply the same number raised to different exponents!

      • What's the Quotient of Powers Rule?What's the Quotient of Powers Rule?

      What's the Quotient of Powers Rule?

      Working with exponents can be lots of fun, as long as you understand how they work. In this tutorial you'll see how exponents add when you divide the same number raised to different exponents!

  • Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.