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

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

Video Solution

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

Exercise #2

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 #3

(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 #4

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 #5

10= 1^0=

Video Solution

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

Exercise #6

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We begin by using the power rule of negative exponents.

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

41=141=14 4^{-1}=\frac{1}{4^1}=\frac{1}{4} We can therefore deduce that the correct answer is option B.

Answer

14 \frac{1}{4}

Exercise #7

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

Using the rules of negative exponents: how to raise a number to a negative exponent:

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

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

Answer

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

Exercise #8

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

In order to solve the exercise, we use the negative exponent rule.

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

We apply the rule to the given exercise:

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

We can then continue and calculate the exponent.

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

Answer

1361 \frac{1}{361}

Exercise #9

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

We use the negative exponent rule.

bn=1bn b^{-n}=\frac{1}{b^n}

We apply it to the problem in the opposite sense.:

183=83 \frac{1}{8^3}=8^{-3}

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

83 8^{-3}

Exercise #10

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 given expression:

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

Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Answer

29 2^{-9}

Exercise #11

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

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To begin with, we must remind ourselves of the Negative Exponent rule:

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

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

Answer

123 12^{-3}

Exercise #12

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

Video Solution

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

Exercise #13

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

Video Solution

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

Exercise #14

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

Exercise #15

9= 9=

Video Solution

Step-by-Step Solution

To solve this problem, we need to evaluate expressions by applying the rules of exponents and the effects of parentheses on negative numbers:

  • (3)2(-3)^2: When a negative number is squared, the result is positive. So, (3)2(-3)^2 means 3×3=9-3 \times -3 = 9.
  • (3)2-(-3)^2: This means 1×(3×3)-1 \times (-3 \times -3) because squaring a number negates the negative sign inside parentheses, resulting in 9-9.
  • (3)2-(3)^2: This equals 1×(3×3)=9-1 \times (3 \times 3) = -9, as the negative sign is outside the squared value.
  • 3-3: This is simply 3-3.

Only (3)2(-3)^2 equals 9, confirming it as the correct expression required by the problem.

Therefore, the solution to the problem is (3)2 (-3)^2 .

Answer

(3)2 (-3)^2