Subscribe

8th grade · Math · Unit 12 of 17

Exponent Rules

Add, subtract, multiply exponents

What your child practices

Properties of integer exponents: multiplying and dividing powers with the same base, a power of a power, zero exponents and negative exponents.

Washington State Learning Standards learning standard: M.8.Q.EE.1 · applying the properties of integer exponents to write equivalent numerical expressions

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Multiply powers with the same base: add the exponents.
  2. Divide: subtract the exponents. Power of a power: multiply them.
  3. a⁰ = 1, and a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ.

Example: Simplify 2³ × 2⁴. Same base, so add: 3 + 4 = 7. Answer: 2⁷

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Simplify 4² × 4².

    • 4⁴
    • 4¹
    • 16⁴

  2. Question 2

    What is the value of 2⁶ × 2⁻³?

    • 64
    • 8
    • 512
    • 16

  3. Question 3

    What is 5⁻¹?

    • 1/5
    • −5
    • 5
    • −1/5

  4. Question 4

    Simplify (2²)³.

    • 2⁶
    • 6²
    • 2⁵
    • 2⁷

  5. Question 5

    Simplify 9⁴ ÷ 9³.

    • 9¹²
    • 1¹
    • 9¹
    • 9⁷

  6. Question 6

    What is 4⁻²?

    • 1/16
    • −1/16
    • 16
    • −16

More 8th grade