9.1: Integer Exponents and Scientific Notation
- Page ID
- 113728
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Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Use the definition of a negative exponent
- Simplify expressions with integer exponents
- Convert from decimal notation to scientific notation
- Convert scientific notation to decimal form
- Multiply and divide using scientific notation
Note
Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.
- What is the place value of the 6 in the number 64891?
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.2.1. - Name the decimal: 0.0012.
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.8.1. - Subtract: 5−(−3).
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.4.33.
Use the Definition of a Negative Exponent
We saw that the Quotient Property for Exponents introduced earlier in this chapter, has two forms depending on whether the exponent is larger in the numerator or the denominator.
QUOTIENT PROPERTY FOR EXPONENTS
If a is a real number, \(a\neq0\), and m and n are whole numbers, then
\[\dfrac{a^{m}}{a^{n}}=a^{m-n}, m>n \quad\]
and
\[\dfrac{a^{m}}{a^{n}}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n-m}}, n>m\]
What if we just subtract exponents regardless of which is larger?
Let’s consider \(\dfrac{x^{2}}{x^{5}}\).
We subtract the exponent in the denominator from the exponent in the numerator.
\[\begin{array}{c}{\dfrac{x^{2}}{x^{5}}} \\ {x^{2-5}} \\ {x^{-3}}\end{array}\]
We can also simplify \(\dfrac{x^{2}}{x^{5}}\) by dividing out common factors:
his implies that \(x^{-3}=\dfrac{1}{x^{3}}\) and it leads us to the definition of a negative exponent.
Definition: NEGATIVE EXPONENT
If n is an integer and \(a\neq 0\), then \(a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}\)
The negative exponent tells us we can re-write the expression by taking the reciprocal of the base and then changing the sign of the exponent.
Any expression that has negative exponents is not considered to be in simplest form. We will use the definition of a negative exponent and other properties of exponents to write the expression with only positive exponents.
For example, if after simplifying an expression we end up with the expression \(x^{-3}\), we will take one more step and write \(\dfrac{1}{x^{3}}\). The answer is considered to be in simplest form when it has only positive exponents.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\)
Simplify:
- \(4^{-2}\)
- \(10^{-3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& 4^{-2} \\{\text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}},} & {\dfrac{1}{4^{2}}} \\ {\text { Simplify. }} & \dfrac{1}{16} \end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& 10^{-3} \\{\text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}},} & \dfrac{1}{10^{3}} \\ {\text { Simplify. }} & \dfrac{1}{1000}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{2}\)
Simplify:
- \(2^{-3}\)
- \(10^{-7}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{8}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{10^{7}}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{3}\)
Simplify:
- \(3^{-2}\)
- \(10^{-4}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{9}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{10,000}\)
In Exercise \(\PageIndex{1}\) we raised an integer to a negative exponent. What happens when we raise a fraction to a negative exponent? We’ll start by looking at what happens to a fraction whose numerator is one and whose denominator is an integer raised to a negative exponent.
\(\begin{array}{ll}& \dfrac{1}{a^{-n}}\\ {\text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}} } & \dfrac{1}{\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}} \\ {\text { Simplify the complex fraction. }} & 1 \cdot \dfrac{a^{n}}{1}\\ {\text { Multiply. }} & a^{n}\end{array}\)
This leads to the Property of Negative Exponents.
PROPERTY OF NEGATIVE EXPONENTS
If n is an integer and \(a\neq 0\), then \(\dfrac{1}{a^{-n}}=a^{n}\).
Exercise \(\PageIndex{4}\)
Simplify:
- \(\dfrac{1}{y^{-4}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{3^{-2}}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array} { ll } & \dfrac{1}{y^{-4}}\\ \text { Use the property of a negative exponent, } \dfrac{1}{a^{-n}}=a^{n} . & y^{4}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array} { ll } & \dfrac{1}{3^{-2}}\\ \text {Use the property of a negative exponent, } \dfrac{1}{a^{-n}}=a^{n} . & 3^{2} \\ \text{Simplify.}& 9\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{5}\)
Simplify:
- \(\dfrac{1}{p^{-8}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{4^{-3}}\)
- Answer
-
- \(p^{8}\)
- 64
Exercise \(\PageIndex{6}\)
Simplify:
- \(\dfrac{1}{q^{-7}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{2^{-4}}\)
- Answer
-
- \(q^{7}\)
- 16
Suppose now we have a fraction raised to a negative exponent. Let’s use our definition of negative exponents to lead us to a new property.
\(\begin{array}{ll}& \left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^{-2}\\ {\text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}} } & \dfrac{1}{\left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^{2}} \\ {\text { Simplify the denominator. }} & \dfrac{1}{\dfrac{9}{16}}\\ {\text { Simplify the complex fraction.}} &\dfrac{16}{9}\\ \text { But we know that } \dfrac{16}{9} \text { is }\left(\dfrac{4}{3}\right)^{2} & \\ \text { This tells us that: } & \left(\dfrac{3}{4}\right)^{-2}=\left(\dfrac{4}{3}\right)^{2}\end{array}\)
To get from the original fraction raised to a negative exponent to the final result, we took the reciprocal of the base—the fraction—and changed the sign of the exponent.
This leads us to the Quotient to a Negative Power Property.
QUOTIENT TO A NEGATIVE EXPONENT PROPERTY
If \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, \(a \neq 0, b \neq 0,\) and \(n\) is an integer, then \(\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{7}\)
Simplify:
- \(\left(\dfrac{5}{7}\right)^{-2}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{2 x}{y}\right)^{-3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& \left(\dfrac{5}{7}\right)^{-2}\\ \text { Use the Quotient to a Negative Exponent Property, }\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n}& \\ \text { Take the reciprocal of the fraction and change the sign of the exponent. }&\left(\dfrac{7}{5}\right)^{2}\\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{49}{25}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& \left(-\dfrac{2 x}{y}\right)^{-3}\\ \text { Use the Quotient to a Negative Exponent Property, }\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n}& \\ \text { Take the reciprocal of the fraction and change the sign of the exponent. }&\left(-\dfrac{y}{2 x}\right)^{3}\\ \text { Simplify. } & -\dfrac{y^{3}}{8 x^{3}}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{8}\)
Simplify:
- \(\left(\dfrac{2}{3}\right)^{-4}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{6 m}{n}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{81}{16} \)
- \(\dfrac{n^{2}}{36 m^{2}}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{9}\)
Simplify:
- \(\left(\dfrac{3}{5}\right)^{-3}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{a}{2 b}\right)^{-4}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{125}{27}\)
- \(\dfrac{16 b^{4}}{a^{4}}\)
When simplifying an expression with exponents, we must be careful to correctly identify the base.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{10}\)
Simplify:
- \((-3)^{-2}\)
- \(-3^{-2}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\)
- \(-\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
- Here the exponent applies to the base −3.\(\begin{array}{ll} & (-3)^{-2}\\ {\text { Take the reciprocal of the base and change the sign of the exponent. }}& \dfrac{1}{(-3)^{-2}} \\ {\text { Simplify. }} & \dfrac{1}{9}\end{array}\)
- The expression \(-3^{-2}\) means “find the opposite of \(3^{-2}\)”. Here the exponent applies to the base 3.\(\begin{array}{ll} &-3^{-2}\\ \text { Rewrite as a product with }-1&-1 \cdot 3^{-2}\\\text { Take the reciprocal of the base and change the sign of the exponent. } & -1 \cdot \dfrac{1}{3^{2}}\\ {\text { Simplify. }} & -\dfrac{1}{9}\end{array}\)
- Here the exponent applies to the base\(\left(-\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\). \(\begin{array}{ll} &\left(-\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\\ {\text { Take the reciprocal of the base and change the sign of the exponent. }}& \left(-\dfrac{3}{1}\right)^{2}\\ {\text { Simplify. }} & 9\end{array}\)
- The expression \(-\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\) means “find the opposite of \(\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\)”. Here the exponent applies to the base \(\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)\).\(\begin{array}{ll} &-\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\\ \text { Rewrite as a product with }-1&-1 \cdot\left(\dfrac{1}{3}\right)^{-2}\\\text { Take the reciprocal of the base and change the sign of the exponent. } & -1 \cdot\left(\dfrac{3}{1}\right)^{2}\\ {\text { Simplify. }} & -9 \end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{11}\)
Simplify:
- \((-5)^{-2}\)
- \(-5^{-2}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{1}{5}\right)^{-2}\)
- \(-\left(\dfrac{1}{5}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{25}\)
- \(-\dfrac{1}{25}\)
- 25
- −25
Exercise \(\PageIndex{12}\)
Simplify:
- \((-7)^{-2}\)
- \(-7^{-2}\)
- \(\left(-\dfrac{1}{7}\right)^{-2}\)
- \(-\left(\dfrac{1}{7}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{49}\)
- \(-\dfrac{1}{49}\)
- 49
- −49
We must be careful to follow the Order of Operations. In the next example, parts (a) and (b) look similar, but the results are different.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{13}\)
Simplify:
- 4\(\cdot 2^{-1}\)
- \((4 \cdot 2)^{-1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll} \text { Do exponents before multiplication. }&4 \cdot 2^{-1}\\ \text { Use } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}&4 \cdot \dfrac{1}{2^{1}}\\ {\text { Simplify. }} & 2 \end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &(4 \cdot 2)^{-1}\\ \text { Simplify inside the parentheses first. }&(8)^{-1}\\ \text { Use } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}} & \dfrac{1}{8^{1}}\\{\text { Simplify. }} & \dfrac{1}{8} \end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{14}\)
Simplify:
- 6\(\cdot 3^{-1}\)
- \((6 \cdot 3)^{-1}\)
- Answer
-
- 2
- \(\dfrac{1}{18}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{15}\)
Simplify:
- 8\(\cdot 2^{-2}\)
- \((8 \cdot 2)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
- 2
- \(\dfrac{1}{256}\)
When a variable is raised to a negative exponent, we apply the definition the same way we did with numbers. We will assume all variables are non-zero.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{16}\)
Simplify:
- \(x^{-6}\)
- \(\left(u^{4}\right)^{-3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &x^{-6}\\ \text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}&\dfrac{1}{x^{6}}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &\left(u^{4}\right)^{-3}\\ \text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}&\dfrac{1}{\left(u^{4}\right)^{3}} \\ \text{ Simplify.} & \dfrac{1}{u^{12}}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{17}\)
Simplify:
- \(y^{-7}\)
- \(\left(z^{3}\right)^{-5}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{y^{7}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{z^{15}}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{18}\)
Simplify:
- \(p^{-9}\)
- \(\left(q^{4}\right)^{-6}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{p^{9}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{q^{24}}\)
When there is a product and an exponent we have to be careful to apply the exponent to the correct quantity. According to the Order of Operations, we simplify expressions in parentheses before applying exponents. We’ll see how this works in the next example.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{19}\)
Simplify:
- 5\(y^{-1}\)
- \((5 y)^{-1}\)
- \((-5 y)^{-1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &5 y^{-1}\\ \text { Notice the exponent applies to just the base y. }& \\ \text { Take the reciprocal of } y \text { and change the sign of the exponent. }&5 \cdot \dfrac{1}{y^{1}} \\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{5}{y}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &(5 y)^{-1}\\\text { Here the parentheses make the exponent apply to the base } 5 y .& \\ \text { Take the reciprocal of } 5 y \text { and change the sign of the exponent. }&\dfrac{1}{(5 y)^{1}}\\ \text { Simplify. } &\dfrac{1}{5 y}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll} &(-5 y)^{-1}\\\text { The base here is }-5 y& \\ \text { Take the reciprocal of }-5 y \text { and change the sign of the exponent. }&\dfrac{1}{(-5 y)^{1}}\\ \text { Simplify. } &\dfrac{1}{-5 y}\\ \text { Use } \dfrac{a}{-b}=-\dfrac{a}{b} & -\dfrac{1}{5 y}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{20}\)
Simplify:
- 8\(p^{-1}\)
- \((8 p)^{-1}\)
- \((-8 p)^{-1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{8}{p}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{8 p}\)
- \(-\dfrac{1}{8 p}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{21}\)
Simplify:
- 11\(q^{-1}\)
- \((11 q)^{-1}-(11 q)^{-1}\)
- \((-11 q)^{-1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{11}{1 q}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{11 q}-\dfrac{1}{11 q}\)
- \(-\dfrac{1}{11 q}\)
With negative exponents, the Quotient Rule needs only one form \(\dfrac{a^{m}}{a^{n}}=a^{m-n},\) for \(a \neq 0\)0. When the exponent in the denominator is larger than the exponent in the numerator, the exponent of the quotient will be negative.
Simplify Expressions with Integer Exponents
All of the exponent properties we developed earlier in the chapter with whole number exponents apply to integer exponents, too. We restate them here for reference.
SUMMARY OF EXPONENT PROPERTIES
If \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, and \(m\) and \(n\) are integers, then
\(\begin{array}{lrll}{\textbf { Product Property }}& a^{m} \cdot a^{n} &=&a^{m+n} \\ {\textbf { Power Property }} &\left(a^{m}\right)^{n} &=&a^{m \cdot n} \\ {\textbf { Product to a Power }} &(a b)^{m} &=&a^{m} b^{m} \\ {\textbf { Quotient Property }} & \dfrac{a^{m}}{a^{n}} &=&a^{m-n}, a \neq 0 \\ {\textbf { Zero Exponent Property }}& a^{0} &= & 1, a \neq 0 \\ {\textbf { Quotient to a Power Property }} & \left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{m} &=&\dfrac{a^{m}}{b^{m}}, b \neq 0 \\ {\textbf { Properties of Negative Exponents }} & a^{-n} &=&\dfrac{1}{a^{n}} \text { and } \dfrac{1}{a^{-n}}=a^{n}\\ {\textbf { Quotient to a Negative Exponents }}& \left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{-n} &=&\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^{n} \\\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{22}\)
Simplify:
- \(x^{-4} \cdot x^{6}\)
- \(y^{-6} \cdot y^{4}\)
- \(z^{-5} \cdot z^{-3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& x^{-4} \cdot x^{6} \\ \text { Use the Product Property, } a^{m} \cdot a^{n}=a^{m+n} & x^{-4+6} \\ \text { Simplify. } & x^{2} \end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& y^{-6} \cdot y^{4} \\ \text { Notice the same bases, so add the exponents. }& y^{-6+4}\\ \text { Simplify. } & y^{-2} \\ \text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}} & \dfrac{1}{y^{2}}\end{array}\)
- \(\begin{array}{ll}& z^{-5} \cdot z^{-3} \\ \text { Add the exponents, since the bases are the same. }& z^{-5-3}\\ \text { Simplify. } & z^{-8}\\ \text { Take the reciprocal and change the sign of the exponent, }& \dfrac{1}{z^{8}} \\ \text { using the definition of a negative exponent. }\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{23}\)
Simplify:
- \(x^{-3} \cdot x^{7}\)
- \(y^{-7} \cdot y^{2}\)
- \(z^{-4} \cdot z^{-5}\)
- Answer
-
- \(x^{4}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{y^{5}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{z^{9}}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{24}\)
Simplify:
- \(a^{-1} \cdot a^{6}\)
- \(b^{-8} \cdot b^{4}\)
- \(c^{-8} \cdot c^{-7}\)
- Answer
-
- \(a^{5}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{b^{4}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{c^{15}}\)
In the next two examples, we’ll start by using the Commutative Property to group the same variables together. This makes it easier to identify the like bases before using the Product Property.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{25}\)
Simplify: \(\left(m^{4} n^{-3}\right)\left(m^{-5} n^{-2}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll}& \left(m^{4} n^{-3}\right)\left(m^{-5} n^{-2}\right) \\ \text { Use the Commutative Property to get like bases together. }& m^{4} m^{-5} \cdot n^{-2} n^{-3}\\ \text { Add the exponents for each base. }&m^{-1} \cdot n^{-5}\\ \text { Take reciprocals and change the signs of the exponents. }& \dfrac{1}{m^{1}} \cdot \dfrac{1}{n^{5}} \\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{1}{m n^{5}}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{26}\)
Simplify: \(\left(p^{6} q^{-2}\right)\left(p^{-9} q^{-1}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{1}{p^3 q^3}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{27}\)
Simplify:\(\left(r^{5} s^{-3}\right)\left(r^{-7} s^{-5}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{1}{r^2 s^8}\)
If the monomials have numerical coefficients, we multiply the coefficients, just like we did earlier.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{28}\)
Simplify: \(\left(2 x^{-6} y^{8}\right)\left(-5 x^{5} y^{-3}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll}& \left(2 x^{-6} y^{8}\right)\left(-5 x^{5} y^{-3}\right) \\ \text { Rewrite with the like bases together. }& 2(-5) \cdot\left(x^{-6} x^{5}\right) \cdot\left(y^{8} y^{-3}\right)\\ \text { Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents of each variable. }&-10 \cdot x^{-1} \cdot y^{5}\\ \text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}&-10 \cdot \dfrac{1}{x^{1}} \cdot y^{5} \\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{-10 y^{5}}{x}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{29}\)
Simplify: \(\left(3 u^{-5} v^{7}\right)\left(-4 u^{4} v^{-2}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(-\frac{12v^5}{u}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{30}\)
Simplify: \(\left(-6 c^{-6} d^{4}\right)\left(-5 c^{-2} d^{-1}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{30d^3}{c^8}\)
In the next two examples, we’ll use the Power Property and the Product to a Power Property.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{31}\)
Simplify: \(\left(6 k^{3}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll}&\left(6 k^{3}\right)^{-2}\\ \text { Use the Product to a Power Property, }(a b)^{m}=a^{n} b^{m}&(6)^{-2}\left(k^{3}\right)^{-2}\\ \text { Use the Power Property, }\left(a^{m}\right)^{n}=a^{m \cdot n}&6^{-2} k^{-6}\\ \text { Use the definition of a negative exponent, } a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}&\dfrac{1}{6^{2}} \cdot \dfrac{1}{k^{6}} \\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{1}{36 k^{6}}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{32}\)
Simplify: \(\left(-4 x^{4}\right)^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{1}{16x^8}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{33}\)
Simplify: \(\left(2 b^{3}\right)^{-4}\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{1}{16b^{12}}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{34}\)
Simplify: \(\left(5 x^{-3}\right)^{2}\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll}&\left(5 x^{-3}\right)^{2}\\ \text { Use the Product to a Power Property, }(a b)^{m}=a^{n} b^{m}&5^{2}\left(x^{-3}\right)^{2}\\ \begin{array}{l}{\text { Simplify } 5^{2} \text { and multiply the exponents of } x \text { using the Power }} \\ {\text { Property, }\left(a^{m}\right)^{n}=a^{m \cdot n} .}\end{array}&25 \cdot x^{-6}\\ \begin{array}{l}{\text { Rewrite } x^{-6} \text { by using the Definition of a Negative Exponent, }} \\ {\space a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}}\end{array}&25 \cdot \dfrac{1}{x^{6}}\\ \text { Simplify. } & \dfrac{25}{x^{6}}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{35}\)
Simplify: \(\left(8 a^{-4}\right)^{2}\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{64}{a^8}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{36}\)
Simplify: \(\left(2 c^{-4}\right)^{3}\)
- Answer
-
\(\frac{8}{c^{12}}\)
To simplify a fraction, we use the Quotient Property and subtract the exponents.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{37}\)
Simplify: \(\dfrac{r^{5}}{r^{-4}}\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{l} & \dfrac{r^{5}}{r^{-4}}\\ {\text { Use the Quotient Property, } \dfrac{a^{n}}{a^{n}}=a^{m-n}} & r^{5-(-4)}\\ {\text { Simplify. }} & r^{9}\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{38}\)
Simplify: \(\dfrac{x^{8}}{x^{-3}}\)
- Answer
-
\(x^{11}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{39}\)
Simplify: \(\dfrac{y^{8}}{y^{-6}}\)
- Answer
-
\(y^{14}\)
Convert from Decimal Notation to Scientific Notation
Remember working with place value for whole numbers and decimals? Our number system is based on powers of 10. We use tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. Our decimal numbers are also based on powers of tens—tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on. Consider the numbers 4,000 and 0.004. We know that 4,000 means \(4 \times 1,000\) and 0.004 means \(4 \times \dfrac{1}{1,000}\).
If we write the 1000 as a power of ten in exponential form, we can rewrite these numbers in this way:
\[\begin{array}{ll}{4,000} & {0.004} \\ {4 \times 1,000} & {4 \times \dfrac{1}{1,000}} \\ {4 \times 10^{3}} & {4 \times \dfrac{1}{10^{3}}} \\ & {4 \times 10^{-3}}\end{array}\]
When a number is written as a product of two numbers, where the first factor is a number greater than or equal to one but less than 10, and the second factor is a power of 10 written in exponential form, it is said to be in scientific notation.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
A number is expressed in scientific notation when it is of the form
\[a \times 10^{n} \text { where } 1 \leq a<10 \text { and } n \text { is an integer }\]
It is customary in scientific notation to use as the \(\times\) multiplication sign, even though we avoid using this sign elsewhere in algebra.
If we look at what happened to the decimal point, we can see a method to easily convert from decimal notation to scientific notation.
In both cases, the decimal was moved 3 places to get the first factor between 1 and 10.
\(\begin{array}{ll}{\text { The power of } 10 \text { is positive when the number is larger than } 1 :} & {4,000=4 \times 10^{3}} \\ {\text { The power of } 10 \text { is negative when the number is between } 0 \text { and } 1 :} & {0.004=4 \times 10^{-3}} \end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{40}\): HOW TO CONVERT FROM DECIMAL NOTATION TO SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
Write in scientific notation: 37000.
- Answer
Exercise \(\PageIndex{41}\)
Write in scientific notation: 96000.
- Answer
-
\(9.6 \times 10^{4}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{42}\)
Write in scientific notation: 48300.
- Answer
-
\(4.83 \times 10^{4}\)
HOW TO: Convert from decimal notation to scientific notation
- Step 1. Move the decimal point so that the first factor is greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10.
- Step 2. Count the number of decimal places, n, that the decimal point was moved.
- Step 3. Write the number as a product with a power of 10.
If the original number is:- greater than 1, the power of 10 will be 10n.
- between 0 and 1, the power of 10 will be 10−n.
- Step 4. Check.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{43}\)
Write in scientific notation: 0.0052.
- Answer
-
The original number, 0.0052, is between 0 and 1 so we will have a negative power of 10.
Move the decimal point to get 5.2, a number between 1 and 10. Count the number of decimal places the point was moved. Write as a product with a power of 10. Check. \(\begin{array}{l}{5.2 \times 10^{-3}} \\ {5.2 \times \dfrac{1}{10^{3}}} \\ {5.2 \times \dfrac{1}{1000}} \\ {5.2 \times 0.001}\end{array}\) 0.0052
Exercise \(\PageIndex{44}\)
Write in scientific notation: 0.0078
- Answer
-
\(7.8 \times 10^{-3}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{45}\)
Write in scientific notation: 0.0129
- Answer
-
\(1.29 \times 10^{-2}\)
Convert Scientific Notation to Decimal Form
How can we convert from scientific notation to decimal form? Let’s look at two numbers written in scientific notation and see.
\[\begin{array}{cc}{9.12 \times 10^{4}} & {9.12 \times 10^{-4}} \\ {9.12 \times 10,000} & {9.12 \times 0.0001} \\ {91,200} & {0.000912}\end{array}\]
If we look at the location of the decimal point, we can see an easy method to convert a number from scientific notation to decimal form.
\[9.12 \times 10^{4}=91,200 \quad 9.12 \times 10^{-4}=0.000912\]
In both cases the decimal point moved 4 places. When the exponent was positive, the decimal moved to the right. When the exponent was negative, the decimal point moved to the left.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{46}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(6.2 \times 10^{3}\)
- Answer
Exercise \(\PageIndex{47}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(1.3 \times 10^{3}\)
- Answer
-
\(1,300\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{48}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(9.25 \times 10^{4}\)
- Answer
-
\(92,500\)
The steps are summarized below.
HOW TO
Convert scientific notation to decimal form.
To convert scientific notation to decimal form:
- Step 1. Determine the exponent, \(n\), on the factor \(10\).
- Step 2. Move the decimal \(n\) places, adding zeros if needed.
- If the exponent is positive, move the decimal point \(n\) places to the right.
- If the exponent is negative, move the decimal point \(|n|\) places to the left.
- Step 3. Check.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{49}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(8.9\times 10^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
Determine the exponent, \(n\), on the factor \(10\). Since the exponent is negative, move the decimal point 2 places to the left. Add zeros as needed for placeholders.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{50}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(1.2 \times 10^{-4}\)
- Answer
-
\(0.00012\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{51}\)
Convert to decimal form: \(7.5 \times 10^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
\(0.075\)
Multiply and Divide Using Scientific Notation
Astronomers use very large numbers to describe distances in the universe and ages of stars and planets. Chemists use very small numbers to describe the size of an atom or the charge on an electron. When scientists perform calculations with very large or very small numbers, they use scientific notation. Scientific notation provides a way for the calculations to be done without writing a lot of zeros. We will see how the Properties of Exponents are used to multiply and divide numbers in scientific notation.
Exercise \(\PageIndex{52}\)
Multiply. Write answers in decimal form:\(\left(4 \times 10^{5}\right)\left(2 \times 10^{-7}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll} & \left(4 \times 10^{5}\right)\left(2 \times 10^{-7}\right)\\\text { Use the Commutative Property to rearrange the factors. }& 4 \cdot 2 \cdot 10^{5} \cdot 10^{-7} \\ \text{ Multiply.} & 8 \times 10^{-2} \\ \text { Change to decimal form by moving the decimal two places left. } & 0.08\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{53}\)
Multiply \((3\times 10^{6})(2\times 10^{-8})\). Write answers in decimal form.
- Answer
-
\(0.06\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{54}\)
Multiply \(\left(3 \times 10^{-2}\right)\left(3 \times 10^{-1}\right)\). Write answers in decimal form.
- Answer
-
\(0.009\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{55}\)
Divide. Write answers in decimal form: \(\dfrac{9 \times 10^{3}}{3 \times 10^{-2}}\)
- Answer
-
\(\begin{array}{ll} & \dfrac{9 \times 10^{3}}{3 \times 10^{-2}}\\\text { Separate the factors, rewriting as the product of two fractions. }& \dfrac{9}{3} \times \dfrac{10^{3}}{10^{-2}}\\ \text{ Divide.} & 3 \times 10^{5} \\ \text { Change to decimal form by moving the decimal five places right. } & 300000\end{array}\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{56}\)
Divide \(\dfrac{8 \times 10^{4}}{2 \times 10^{-1}} .\) Write answers in decimal form.
- Answer
-
\(400,000\)
Exercise \(\PageIndex{57}\)
Divide \(\dfrac{8 \times 10^{2}}{4 \times 10^{-2}} .\) Write answers in decimal form.
- Answer
-
\(20,000\)
MEDIA ACCESS ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES
Access these online resources for additional instruction and practice with integer exponents and scientific notation:
- Negative Exponents
- Scientific Notation
- Scientific Notation 2
Key Concepts
- Property of Negative Exponents
- If \(n\) is a positive integer and \(a \ne 0\), then \(\dfrac{1}{a^{−n}}=a^n\)
- Quotient to a Negative Exponent
- If \(a\) and \(b\) are real numbers, \(b \ne 0\) and \(n\) is an integer , then \(\left(\dfrac{a}{b}\right)^{−n}=\left(\dfrac{b}{a}\right)^n\)
- To convert scientific notation to decimal form:
- Determine the exponent, \(n\) on the factor \(10\).
- Move the decimal \(n\) places, adding zeros if needed.
- If the exponent is positive, move the decimal point \(n\) places to the right.
- If the exponent is negative, move the decimal point \(|n|\) places to the left.
- Check.
- To convert a decimal to scientific notation:
- Move the decimal point so that the first factor is greater than or equal to \(1\) but less than \(10\).
- Count the number of decimal places, \(n\) that the decimal point was moved.
- Write the number as a product with a power of \(10\). If the original number is:
- greater than \(1\), the power of \(10\) will be \(10^n\)
- between \(0\) and \(1\), the power of \(10\) will be \(10^{−n}\)
- Check.
Glossary
- negative exponent
- If \(n\) is a positive integer and \(a \neq 0\), then \(a^{-n}=\dfrac{1}{a^{n}}\).
- scientific notation
- A number is expressed in scientific notation when it is of the form \(a \times 10^{n}\) where \(a \geq 1\) and a<10 and \(n\) is an integer.
Practice Makes Perfect
Use the Definition of a Negative Exponent
In the following exercises, simplify.
Exercise 1
- \(4^{−2}\)
- \(10^{−3}\)
Exercise 2
- \(3^{−4}\)
- \(10^{−2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\frac{1}{81}\)
- \(\frac{1}{100}\)
Exercise 3
- \(5^{−3}\)
- \(10^{−5}\)
Exercise 4
- \(2^{−8}\)
- \(10^{−2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\frac{1}{256}\)
- \(\frac{1}{100}\)
Exercise 5
- \(\dfrac{1}{c^{−5}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{3^{−2}}\)
Exercise 6
- \(\dfrac{1}{c^{−5}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{5^{−2}}\)
- Answer
-
- \(c^5\)
- 25
Exercise 7
- \(\dfrac{1}{q^{−10}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{10^{−3}}\)
Exercise 8
- \(\dfrac{1}{t^{−9}}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{10^{−4}}\)
- Answer
-
- \(t^9\)
- \(10000\)
Exercise 9
- \(\left(\dfrac{5}{8}\right)^{−2}\)
- \(\left(−\dfrac{3m}{n}\right)^{−2}\)
Exercise 10
- \(\left(\dfrac{3}{10}\right)^{−2}\)
- \(\left(−\dfrac{2c}{d}\right)^{−3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{100}{9}\)
- \(−\dfrac{c^{3}d^3}{8}\)
Exercise 11
- \(\left(\dfrac{4}{9}\right)^{−3}\)
- \(\left(−\dfrac{u^2}{2v}\right)^{−5}\)
Exercise 12
- \(\left(\dfrac{7}{2}\right)^{−3}\)
- \(\left(−\dfrac{3}{xy^2}\right)^{−3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{8}{343}\)
- \(−\dfrac{x^{3}y^6}{27}\)
Exercise 13
- \((−5)^{−2}\)
- \(−5^{−2}\)
- \(\left(−\frac{1}{5}\right)^{−2}\)
- \(−\left(\frac{1}{5}\right)^{−2}\)
Exercise 14
- \((−7)^{−2}\)
- \(−7^{−2}\)
- \(\left(−\frac{1}{7}\right)^{−2}\)
- \(−\left(\frac{1}{7}\right)^{−2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\frac{1}{49}\)
- \(−\frac{1}{49}\)
- 49
- −49
Exercise 15
- \(−3^{−3}\)
- \(\left(−\frac{1}{3}\right)^{−3}\)
- \(−\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^{−3}\)
- \((−3)^{−3}\)
Exercise 16
- \(−5^{−3}\)
- \(\left(−\frac{1}{5}\right)^{−3}\)
- \(−\left(\frac{1}{5}\right)^{−3}\)
- \((−5)^{−3}\)
- Answer
-
- \(−\frac{1}{125}\)
- −125
- −125
- \(−\frac{1}{125}\)
Exercise 17
- \(3·5^{−1}\)
- \((3·5)^{−1}\)
Exercise 18
- \(2·5^{−1}\)
- \((2·5)^{−1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\frac{2}{5}\)
- \(\frac{1}{10}\)
Exercise 19
- \(4·5^{−2}\)
- \((4·5)^{−2}\)
Exercise 20
- \(3·4^{−2}\)
- \((3·4)^{−2}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\frac{3}{16}\)
- \(\frac{1}{144}\)
Exercise 21
- \(m^{−4}\)
- \((x^3)^{−4}\)
Exercise 22
- \(b^{−5}\)
- \((k^2)^{−5}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{b^5}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{k^{10}}\)
Exercise 23
- \(p^{−10}\)
- \((q^6)^{−8}\)
Exercise 24
- \(s^{−8}\)
- \((a^9)^{−10}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{s^8}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{a^{90}}\)
Exercise 25
- \(7n^{−1}\)
- \((7n)^{−1}\)
- \((−7n)^{−1}\)
Exercise 26
- \(6r^{−1}\)
- \((6r)^{−1}\)
- \((−6r)^{−1}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{6}{r}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{6r}\)
- \(−\dfrac{1}{6r}\)
Exercise 27
- \((3p)^{−2}\)
- \(3p^{−2}\)
- \(−3p^{−2}\)
Exercise 28
- \((2q)^{−4}\)
- \(2q^{−4}\)
- \(−2q^{−4}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{16q^4}\)
- \(\dfrac{2}{q^4}\)
- \(−\dfrac{2}{q^4}\)
Simplify Expressions with Integer Exponents
In the following exercises, simplify.
Exercise 29
- \(b^{4}b^{−8}\)
- \(r^{−2}r^5\)
- \(x^{−7}x^{−3}\)
Exercise 30
- \(s^3·s^{−7}\)
- \(q^{−8}·q^3\)
- \(y^{−2}·y^{−5}\)
- Answer
-
- \(\dfrac{1}{s^4}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{q^5}\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{y^7}\)
Exercise 31
- \(a^3·a^{−3}\)
- \(a·a^3\)
- \(a·a^{−3}\)
Exercise 32
- \(y^5·y^{−5}\)
- \(y·y^5\)
- \(y·y^{−5}\)
- Answer
-
- 1
- \(y^6\)
- \(\dfrac{1}{y^4}\)
Exercise 33
\(p^5·p^{−2}·p^{−4}\)
Exercise 34
\(x^4·x^{−2}·x^{−3}\)
- Answer
-
\(\dfrac{1}{x}\)
Exercise 35
\((w^{4}x^{−5})(w^{−2}x^{−4})\)
Exercise 36
\((m^{3}n^{−3})(m^{−5}n^{−1})\)
- Answer
-
\(\dfrac{1}{m^{2}n^4}\)
Exercise 37
\((uv^{−2})(u^{−5}v^{−3})\)
Exercise 38
\((pq^{−4})(p^{−6}q^{−3})\)
- Answer
-
\(\dfrac{1}{p^{5}q^{7}}\)
Exercise 39
\((−6c^{−3}d^9)(2c^{4}d^{−5})\)
Exercise 40
\((−2j^{−5}k^8)(7j^{2}k^{−3})\)
- Answer
-
\(−\dfrac{14k^5}{j^3}\)
Exercise 41
\((−4r^{−2}s^{−8})(9r^{4}s^3)\)
Exercise 42
\((−5m^{4}n^6)(8m^{−5}n^{−3})\)
- Answer
-
\(−\dfrac{40n^3}{m}\)
Exercise 43
\((5x^2)^{−2}\)
Exercise 44
\((4y^3)^{−3}\)
- Answer
-
\(\dfrac{1}{64y^9}\)
Exercise 45
\((3z^{−3})^2\)
Exercise 46
\((2p^{−5})^2\)
- Answer
-
\(\dfrac{4}{p^{10}}\)
Exercise 47
\(\dfrac{t^{9}}{t^{−3}}\)
Exercise 48
\(\dfrac{n^{5}}{n^{−2}}\)
- Answer
-
\(n^7\)
Exercise 49
\(\dfrac{x^{−7}}{x^{−3}}\)
Exercise 50
\(\dfrac{y^{−5}}{y^{−10}}\)
- Answer
-
\(y^5\)
Convert from Decimal Notation to Scientific Notation
In the following exercises, write each number in scientific notation.
Exercise 51
57,000
Exercise 52
340,000
- Answer
-
\(3.4 \times 10^{5}\)
Exercise 53
8,750,000
Exercise 54
1,290,000
- Answer
-
\(1.29 \times 10^{6}\)
Exercise 55
0.026
Exercise 56
0.041
- Answer
-
\(4.1 \times 10^{-2}\)
Exercise 57
0.00000871
Exercise 58
0.00000103
- Answer
-
\(1.03 \times 10^{-6}\)
Convert Scientific Notation to Decimal Form
In the following exercises, convert each number to decimal form.
Exercise 59
\(5.2 \times 10^{2}\)
Exercise 60
\(8.3 \times 10^{2}\)
- Answer
-
830
Exercise 61
\(7.5 \times 10^{6}\)
Exercise 62
\(1.6 \times 10^{10}\)
- Answer
-
16,000,000,000
Exercise 63
\(2.5 \times 10^{-2}\)
Exercise 64
\(3.8 \times 10^{-2}\)
- Answer
-
0.038
Exercise 65
\(4.13 \times 10^{-5}\)
Exercise 66
\(1.93 \times 10^{-5}\)
- Answer
-
0.0000193
Multiply and Divide Using Scientific Notation
In the following exercises, multiply. Write your answer in decimal form.
Exercise 67
\(\left(3 \times 10^{-5}\right)\left(3 \times 10^{9}\right)\)
Exercise 68
\(\left(2 \times 10^{2}\right)\left(1 \times 10^{-4}\right)\)
- Answer
-
0.02
Exercise 69
\(\left(7.1 \times 10^{-2}\right)\left(2.4 \times 10^{-4}\right)\)
Exercise 70
\(\left(3.5 \times 10^{-4}\right)\left(1.6 \times 10^{-2}\right)\)
- Answer
-
\(5.6 \times 10^{-6}\)
In the following exercises, divide. Write your answer in decimal form.
Exercise 71
\(\dfrac{7 \times 10^{-3}}{1 \times 10^{-7}}\)
Exercise 72
\(\dfrac{5 \times 10^{-2}}{1 \times 10^{-10}}\)
- Answer
-
500,000,000
Exercise 73
\(\dfrac{6 \times 10^{4}}{3 \times 10^{-2}}\)
Exercise 74
\(\dfrac{8 \times 10^{6}}{4 \times 10^{-1}}\)
- Answer
-
20,000,000
Everyday Math
Exercise 75
The population of the United States on July 4, 2010 was almost 310,000,000. Write the number in scientific notation.
Exercise 76
The population of the world on July 4, 2010 was more than 6,850,000,000. Write the number in scientific notation
- Answer
-
\(6.85 \times 10^{9}\)
Exercise 77
The average width of a human hair is 0.0018 centimeters. Write the number in scientific notation.
Exercise 78
The probability of winning the 2010 Megamillions lottery was about 0.0000000057. Write the number in scientific notation.
- Answer
-
\(5.7 \times 10^{-9}\)
Exercise 79
In \(2010,\) the number of Facebook users each day who changed their status to 'engaged" was \(2 \times 10^{4} .\) Convert this number
to decimal form.
Exercise 80
At the start of \(2012,\) the US federal budget had a deficit of more than \(\$ 1.5 \times 10^{13} .\) Convert this number to decimal form.
- Answer
-
15,000,000,000,000
Exercise 81
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is \(3.9 \times 10^{-4} .\) Convert this number to decimal form.
Exercise 82
The width of a proton is \(1 \times 10^{-5}\) of the width of an atom. Convert this number to decimal form.
- Answer
-
0.00001
Exercise 83
Health care costs The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid projects that consumers will spend more than $4 trillion on health care by 2017.
- Write 4 trillion in decimal notation.
- Write 4 trillion in scientific notation.
Exercise 84
Coin production In 1942, the U.S. Mint produced 154,500,000 nickels. Write 154,500,000 in scientific notation.
- Answer
-
\(1.545 \times 10^{8}\)
Exercise 85
Distance The distance between Earth and one of the brightest stars in the night star is 33.7 light years. One light year is about 6,000,000,000,000 (6 trillion), miles.
- Write the number of miles in one light year in scientific notation.
- Use scientific notation to find the distance between Earth and the star in miles. Write the answer in scientific notation.
Exercise 86
Debt At the end of fiscal year 2015 the gross United States federal government debt was estimated to be approximately $18,600,000,000,000 ($18.6 trillion), according to the Federal Budget. The population of the United States was approximately 300,000,000 people at the end of fiscal year 2015.
- Write the debt in scientific notation.
- Write the population in scientific notation.
- Find the amount of debt per person by using scientific notation to divide the debt by the population. Write the answer in scientific notation.
- Answer
-
- \(1.86 \times 10^{13}\)
- \(3 \times 10^{8}\)
- \(6.2 \times 10^{4}\)
Writing Exercises
Exercise 87
- Explain the meaning of the exponent in the expression \(2^{3}\).
- Explain the meaning of the exponent in the expression \(2^{-3}\).
Exercise 88
When you convert a number from decimal notation to scientific notation, how do you know if the exponent will be positive or negative?
- Answer
-
answers will vary
Self Check
a. After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.
b. Overall, after looking at the checklist, do you think you are well-prepared for the next section? Why or why not?