Zero and Negative Exponents

Raising a Number to the Zero Power Anything raised to the zero power is 1, except 0 to

the zero power. 0 to the zero power is undefined.

Negative Exponents

A negative exponent is telling you to divide by that number – or find the reciprocal of that number, then raise it to the power indicated.

For example, 5-2 is telling you to divide by 52 or to flip 5 2 ( ), then square the 5 → ( ).

In the case of variables, you can just move it from top (numerator) to bottom (denominator) or vice versa.

For example, would change to

1521

25

34

2 5

3 4

a bc d

34

5 4

2 3

b da c

50

A. 0B. 1C. -1D. 5

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

-30

A. 0B. 1C. -1D. 3

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

(-6)0

A. 0B. 1C. -1D. -6

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

3-2

A. 9B. -9C. -

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

( 23 )

−2

A. -

B. -

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

5 ∙ 100

A. 5 ∙ 0 = 0B. 5 ∙ 1 = 5C. 5 ∙ 10 = 50D. 5 ∙ -1 = -5

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

4−1

90

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

3𝑎−1𝑏−5

7𝑐2𝑑4

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

6𝑎−1𝑐− 3

𝑏0

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

5𝑎𝑐− 5

[Default][MC Any][MC All]

Try these…

1. A square foot is 3–2 square yards. Simplify this expression.

Simplify.

2. 2–6

3. (–7)–3

4. 60

5. –112

1

–121

Try these…

Evaluate each expression for the given value(s) of the variables(s).

6. x–4 for x =10

7. for a = 6 and b = 3

Simplify the following. There should be no negative exponents.

8.

9.

51

32 nm

43

27

dcba

mn

32 5

37

42

cadb