Powers Special Cases Practice - Negative Exponents & Zero Power

Master powers of negative numbers, zero exponents, and negative integer exponents with step-by-step practice problems and detailed solutions.

📚What You'll Master in This Practice Session
  • Determine signs when raising negative numbers to even and odd powers
  • Apply the zero exponent rule to solve problems with any base to power 0
  • Convert negative exponents to fractions using reciprocal properties
  • Distinguish between (-5)² and -5² notation and solve correctly
  • Simplify complex expressions with multiple negative exponents
  • Work with fractions that have negative exponents by flipping and making positive

Understanding Powers - special cases

Complete explanation with examples

Powers - Special Cases

Powers of negative numbers

When we have an exponent on a negative number, we can get a positive result or a negative result.
We will know this based on the exponent – whether it is even or odd.

Powers with exponent 0

Any number with an exponent of 00 will be equal to 11. (Except for 00)
No matter which number we raise to the power of 00, we will always get a result of 1.

Powers with negative integer exponents

In an exercise where we have a negative exponent, we turn the term into a fraction where:
the numerator will be 11 and in the denominator, the base of the exponent with the positive exponent.

Detailed explanation

Practice Powers - special cases

Test your knowledge with 41 quizzes

Insert the corresponding expression:

\( \)\( \left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{-4}= \)

Examples with solutions for Powers - special cases

Step-by-step solutions included
Exercise #1

Which of the following is equivalent to 1000 100^0 ?

Step-by-Step Solution

Let's solve the problem step by step using the Zero Exponent Rule, which states that any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.


  • Consider the expression: 1000 100^0 .
  • According to the Zero Exponent Rule, if we have any non-zero number, say a a , then a0=1 a^0 = 1 .
  • Here, a=100 a = 100 which is clearly a non-zero number, so following the rule, we find that:
  • 1000=1 100^0 = 1 .

Therefore, the expression 1000 100^0 is equivalent to 1.

Answer:

1

Video Solution
Exercise #2

1120=? 112^0=\text{?}

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the zero exponent rule.

X0=1 X^0=1 We obtain

1120=1 112^0=1 Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Answer:

1

Video Solution
Exercise #3

40=? 4^0=\text{?}

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to find the value of 40 4^0 .

  • Step 1: According to the properties of exponents, for any non-zero number a a , the zero power a0 a^0 is always equal to 1.

  • Step 2: Here, our base is 4, which is a non-zero number.

  • Step 3: Applying the zero exponent rule, we find:

40=1 4^0 = 1

Thus, the answer to the question is 1 1 , corresponding to choice 3.

Answer:

1 1

Video Solution
Exercise #4

(18)0=? (\frac{1}{8})^0=\text{?}

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the problem, (18)0(\frac{1}{8})^0, we utilize the Zero Exponent Rule, which states that any non-zero number raised to the power of zero equals 11.

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

  • Step 1: Identify the base and ensure it is non-zero. In this case, the base is 18\frac{1}{8}, which is indeed non-zero.
  • Step 2: Apply the Zero Exponent Rule. According to this rule, (18)0=1\left(\frac{1}{8}\right)^0 = 1.
  • Step 3: Conclude the result: The expression evaluates to 11.

Therefore, the correct answer to the problem (18)0(\frac{1}{8})^0 is 11.

Answer:

1

Video Solution
Exercise #5

10= 1^0=

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we'll follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Recognize that the base of the exponent is 1.
  • Step 2: Apply the Zero Exponent Rule.
  • Step 3: Verify the result is consistent with mathematical rules.

Now, let's work through each step:
Step 1: We have the expression 101^0, where 1 is the base.
Step 2: According to the Zero Exponent Rule, any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1. Hence, 10=11^0 = 1.
Step 3: Verify: The base 1 is indeed non-zero, confirming that the zero exponent rule applies.

Therefore, the value of 101^0 is 11.

Answer:

1 1

Video Solution

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when you raise a negative number to an even power?

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When you raise a negative number to an even power, the result is always positive. For example, (-4)² = (-4) × (-4) = 16. This is because multiplying two negative numbers gives a positive result.

What happens when you raise a negative number to an odd power?

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When you raise a negative number to an odd power, the result is always negative. For example, (-4)³ = (-4) × (-4) × (-4) = -64. The negative sign remains because you have an odd number of negative factors.

Why does any number to the power of 0 equal 1?

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Any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 equals 1 by mathematical definition. This rule applies universally: 5⁰ = 1, 100⁰ = 1, and (2/3)⁰ = 1. The only exception is 0⁰, which is undefined.

How do you solve problems with negative exponents?

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To solve negative exponents, convert them to fractions with the reciprocal base and positive exponent. For example: 3⁻² = 1/3² = 1/9. The negative exponent means "take the reciprocal and make the exponent positive."

What's the difference between (-5)² and -5²?

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The parentheses make a crucial difference: • (-5)² = (-5) × (-5) = 25 (the exponent applies to the entire negative number) • -5² = -(5²) = -25 (the exponent only applies to 5, then you apply the negative sign)

How do you handle fractions with negative exponents?

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When a fraction has a negative exponent, flip the fraction and make the exponent positive. For example: (3/4)⁻² becomes (4/3)². This works because taking the reciprocal cancels out the negative exponent.

What are the most common mistakes with powers of negative numbers?

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Common mistakes include: 1. Forgetting that even powers of negatives are positive 2. Confusing (-x)ⁿ with -xⁿ notation 3. Not applying the zero exponent rule correctly 4. Incorrectly handling negative exponents in fractions

How do you simplify expressions with multiple negative exponents?

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Work step by step: convert each negative exponent to its reciprocal form, then use fraction operations. For example, 2⁻³/4⁻² becomes (1/2³)/(1/4²) = (1/8)/(1/16) = 16/8 = 2. Always convert negative exponents first, then simplify.

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