Home
Arithmetic
Algebra
Geometry
Statistics
Probability
Set Theory
Trigonometry
Matrices
SAT Preparation
ACT Preparation
GMAT Preparation
Math Worksheets
Math Games
Math Trivia
How Things Work
Links

 

Positive Exponents and Zero Exponents

 

 

Positive Exponents - Repeated Multiplication

The notation an for n > 0, means a multiplied by itself n times.

Text Box: a2 = a × a and a3 = a × a × a

 

For example,

For a quantity an, a is called the base and n is called the exponent or index.

 

Example:

Find the value of each of the following:

Text Box: a)	(– 2)5  b)	   c)	0.33

Solution:

Text Box: a) (– 2)5 = (–2) × (–2) × (–2) × (–2) × (–2)                 = –32    b)	         c)	0.33 = 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3  	        = 0.027

 

 

Zero Exponents

Any number with an exponent of 0 is 1.

Text Box: So, a0 = 1 for a  0

 

Example:

Simplify the following:

Text Box: a) 30  b) (–1)0

Solution:

Text Box: a) 30 = 1  b) (–1)0 = 1

 

 

The following video shows some examples of positive exponents and zero exponent:

 

 

Google
 



Useful Links:
Exponents - Math.com
 
© Copyright 2005, 2007 - onlinemathlearning.com
Google