Multiplying and Dividing Exponents

An exponent tells us the number of times a number should be multiplied by itself. A number 'b' raised to the power 'p' can be written as: bᵖ = b × b × b ×... × b (p times)

Where: 

• b represents any number (the base).
• p is a natural number (the exponent or power).

bp is also called the pᵗʰ power of b.

As we can see, ‘b’ is multiplied by itself p times. This process is called exponentiation and is an efficient way to represent repeated multiplication.

Here are the fundamental rules of exponents:

• Product Rule: an × am = an + m
• Quotient Rule: an / am = an - m
• Power Rule: (an)m = an × m 
• Power of a Root Rule:  m√an = an/m
• Negative Exponent Rule: a-m = 1/am
• Zero Rule: a0 = 1
• One Rule: a1 = a
   

To multiply exponents, we need to follow different rules based on whether the bases are the same or different. 

Multiplying Exponents with the Same Base

The rule for multiplying expressions with the same base is:
am × an = am + n
Where:
‘a’ represents the common base, and ‘m’ and ‘n’ represent the exponents.
For example: 
42 × 43 = 42 + 3 = 45

Multiplying Exponents with Different Bases and the Same Power

When multiplying expressions with different bases but the same exponent, we will use the rule:
am × bm = (a × b)m
This rule works well because exponents represent repeated multiplication.
For example:
52 × 42 = (5 × 4)2 = 202
So,
52 × 42 = 400
 

Understanding the properties of exponents will help us divide exponents effectively. Let’s look at how to divide exponents using different rules:

Dividing Exponents with the Same Base

When dividing two exponential terms with the same base, we apply the quotient rule by subtracting the exponents.
Rule: am ÷ an = am–n
Example: 86 ÷ 82 = 86 –2 = 84

Dividing Exponents with Different Bases but the Same Exponents

When dividing the exponential terms with different bases but the same exponents:
We divide the bases and keep the exponent as it is.
Rule:
am/ bm = (a/b)m
For example: 162 / 42 = (16 / 4)2  = 42

Dividing Exponents with Coefficients

In the case of exponents with variables, we need to divide them separately and apply the exponent rules to the variable part.
For example: 18x2/ 6x2

Let’s look at the steps:

Step 1: Divide the coefficients:
18/6 = 3

Step 2: Apply the quotient rule for exponents:
x2/ x2 = x2 – 2 = x0 = 1
⇒ 3 ×  1 = 3
 

The same rules that apply to numbers also apply to variables when multiplying or dividing the exponents. Let’s now go through the key rules and see how to apply them using different examples:

am × an = am+n
am × bm = (a × b)m
am ÷ an = am-n
am ÷ bm = (a ÷ b)m

Variable as the Base

We will now look at how to apply the rules for a variable as the base.
For example: Simplify y2 × (2y)3
Apply the rule and expand the expression:
(2y)3 = 23 × y3 = 8y3
Multiply with y2:
y2 × 8y3 = 8y2 + 3 = 8y5

Variable as the Exponent

When the bases are the same, we subtract the exponents using the quotient rule, even if the exponent contains a variable.

For example: Simplify 73x+2 / 7x-1
To divide exponential terms with the same base, we subtract the exponents:
7(3x + 2) ÷ 7(x – 1) = 7(3x + 2) – ( x + 1)
Simplify the exponent:
(3x + 2) – (x – 1) = 3x + 2 – x + 1 = 2x + 3
⇒72x + 3
 

Multiplying and dividing exponents help us solve problems that involve large numbers or too small numbers more easily. They are widely used in different fields. Let’s now learn how they can be applied in real-life situations.

• The size of microscopic objects like cells, atoms, or distances like the speed of light can be expressed using exponents. 
  For example, 3 × 108 m/s for the speed of light.
  
   
• We use exponential formulas to calculate compound interest in the banking sector.
  For example: 
  Investing $10,000 at 5% interest for 3 years:
  10,000  × (1.05)3 = $11,576

• Exponents help us understand everyday phenomena such as power consumption measured in watts.
  For example: 
  For 2 hours, a 1000-watt microwave uses 2×103 watt-hours, or 2 kWh.