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.

Practice Powers - special cases

examples with solutions for powers - special cases

Exercise #1

50= 5^0=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property:

X0=1 X^0=1 We apply it to the problem:

50=1 5^0=1 Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Answer

1 1

Exercise #2

(14)1 (\frac{1}{4})^{-1}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property for a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We will write the fraction in parentheses as a negative power with the help of the previously mentioned power:

14=141=41 \frac{1}{4}=\frac{1}{4^1}=4^{-1} We return to the problem, where we obtained:

(14)1=(41)1 \big(\frac{1}{4}\big)^{-1}=(4^{-1})^{-1} We continue and use the power property of an exponent raised to another exponent:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n} And we apply it in the problem:

(41)1=411=41=4 (4^{-1})^{-1}=4^{-1\cdot-1}=4^1=4 Therefore, the correct answer is option d.

Answer

4 4

Exercise #3

52 5^{-2}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the property of powers of a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the problem:

52=152=125 5^{-2}=\frac{1}{5^2}=\frac{1}{25}

Therefore, the correct answer is option d.

Answer

125 \frac{1}{25}

Exercise #4

41=? 4^{-1}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the property of raising to a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the problem:

41=141=14 4^{-1}=\frac{1}{4^1}=\frac{1}{4} Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Answer

14 \frac{1}{4}

Exercise #5

724=? 7^{-24}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the property of raising to a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it in the problem:

724=1724 7^{-24}=\frac{1}{7^{24}} Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Answer

1724 \frac{1}{7^{24}}

examples with solutions for powers - special cases

Exercise #1

192=? 19^{-2}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve the exercise, we use the property of raising to a negative exponent

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n}

We use the property to solve the exercise:

192=1192 19^{-2}=\frac{1}{19^2}

We can continue and solve the power

1192=1361 \frac{1}{19^2}=\frac{1}{361}

Answer

1361 \frac{1}{361}

Exercise #2

183=? \frac{1}{8^3}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property for a negative exponent:

bn=1bn b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n} We apply it to the problem:

183=83 \frac{1}{8^3}=8^{-3} When we use this previously mentioned property in the opposite sense.

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

83 8^{-3}

Exercise #3

129=? \frac{1}{2^9}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property for a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the expression we obtained:

129=29 \frac{1}{2^9}=2^{-9}

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

29 2^{-9}

Exercise #4

1123=? \frac{1}{12^3}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we recall the power property for a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the expression we obtained:

1123=123 \frac{1}{12^3}=12^{-3} Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

123 12^{-3}

Exercise #5

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

Video Solution

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

examples with solutions for powers - special cases

Exercise #1

[(17)1]4= [(\frac{1}{7})^{-1}]^4=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property of a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We will rewrite the fraction in parentheses as a negative power:

17=71 \frac{1}{7}=7^{-1} Let's return to the problem, where we had:

((17)1)4=((71)1)4 \bigg( \big( \frac{1}{7}\big)^{-1}\bigg)^4=\big((7^{-1})^{-1} \big)^4 We continue and use the power property of an exponent raised to another exponent:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n} And we apply it in the problem:

((71)1)4=(711)4=(71)4=714=74 \big((7^{-1})^{-1} \big)^4 =(7^{-1\cdot-1})^4=(7^1)^4=7^{1\cdot4}=7^4 Therefore, the correct answer is option c

Answer

74 7^4

Exercise #2

25=? 2^{-5}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the property of raising to a negative exponent:

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the problem:

25=125=132 2^{-5}=\frac{1}{2^5}=\frac{1}{32} Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

132 \frac{1}{32}

Exercise #3

(7)3=? (-7)^{-3}=\text{?}

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the power property for a negative exponent:

bn=1bn b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n} We apply it in the problem:

(7)3=1(7)3 (-7)^{-3}=\frac{1}{(-7)^3} When we notice that each whole number in parentheses is raised to a negative power (that is, the number and its negative coefficient together), by using the previously mentioned power property we were careful and took this fact into account,

We continue simplifying the expression in the denominator of the fraction, remembering the power property for the power of terms in multiplication:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n} We apply the expression we obtained:

1(7)3=1(17)3=1(1)373=1173=173=173 \frac{1}{(-7)^3}=\frac{1}{(-1\cdot7)^3}=\frac{1}{(-1)^3\cdot7^3}=\frac{1}{-1\cdot7^3}=\frac{1}{-7^3}=-\frac{1}{7^3}

Summarizing the solution to the problem, we obtained that:

(7)3=1(7)3=173=173 (-7)^{-3}=\frac{1}{(-7)^3}=\frac{1}{-7^3}=-\frac{1}{7^3}

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Answer

173 -\frac{1}{7^{3}}

Exercise #4

a4=? a^{-4}=\text{?}

(a0) (a\ne0)

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the property of raising to a negative exponent:

bn=1bn b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n} We apply it in the problem:

a4=1a4 a^{-4}=\frac{1}{a^4} Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Answer

1a4 \frac{1}{a^4}

Exercise #5

1(2)7=? \frac{1}{(-2)^7}=?

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

First, we deal with the expression in the denominator of the fraction and remember according to the property of raising an exponent to another exponent:

(am)n=amn (a^m)^n=a^{m\cdot n} We obtain that:

(2)7=(12)7=(1)727=127=27 (-2)^7=(-1\cdot2)^7=(-1)^7\cdot2^7=-1\cdot2^7=-2^7 We return to the problem and apply what was said before:

1(2)7=127=11127=127 \frac{1}{(-2)^7}=\frac{1}{-2^7}=\frac{1}{-1}\cdot\frac{1}{2^7}=-\frac{1}{2^7} When in the last step we remember that:

11=1 \frac{1}{-1}=-1 Next, we remember the property of raising to a negative power

an=1an a^{-n}=\frac{1}{a^n} We apply it to the expression we obtained in the last step:

127=27 -\frac{1}{2^7}=-2^{-7} Let's summarize the steps of the solution:

1(2)7=127=27 \frac{1}{(-2)^7}=-\frac{1}{2^7} = -2^{-7}

Therefore, the correct answer is option C.

Answer

(2)7 (-2)^{-7}