Negative Exponents Summary

Negative Exponents Summary

Move upstairs or downstairs to turn an exponent positive!

Simplify:

 $\frac{3a^{-2}b}{6a^5b^{-2}}$  

Create 3 mini problems

 $\frac{3}{6}=\frac{1}{2}$  

 $\frac{a^{-2}}{a^5}=\frac{1}{a^5a^2}=\frac{1}{a^7}$  

 $\frac{b}{b^{-2}}=b\times b^2=b^3$  

Now put it all together:

 $\frac{1}{2}\times\frac{1}{a^7}\times b^3=\frac{b^3}{2a^7}$  

Multiple Choice

 Simplify the expression so that there are no negative exponents in your final answer.

 $a^{-14}\cdot b^{17}\cdot a^8$ 

•  $a^{22}b^{17}$  

•  $\frac{a^6}{b^{17}}$  

•  $a^6b^{17}$  

•  $\frac{b^{17}}{a^6}$  

Multiple Choice

Simplify the expression so that there are no negative exponents in your final answer.

 $\frac{7d^{-9}}{d^3}$  

•  $\frac{1}{7d^{12}}$  

•  $\frac{7}{d^{12}}$  

•  $\frac{1}{7d^6}$  

•  $7d^6$  

Multiple Choice

Simplify the expression so that it contains only positive exponents.

Multiple Choice

Simplify.

• y⁶⁰
• ¹/_y¹⁶
• y^-16
• y⁴