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Math Grade 6-8 Answer Key

Properties of Exponents

Using exponent rules to simplify expressions

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Properties of Exponents

Using exponent rules to simplify expressions

Math - Grade 6-8

Instructions: Read each problem carefully. Use the properties of exponents to simplify each expression. Show your work in the space provided.
  1. 1

    Simplify: 2^3 x 2^4

    Use the product of powers rule.

    The expression simplifies to 2^7. When multiplying powers with the same base, add the exponents: 3 + 4 = 7.
  2. 2

    Simplify: 5^6 / 5^2

    The expression simplifies to 5^4. When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the exponents: 6 - 2 = 4.
  3. 3

    Simplify: (3^2)^4

    Use the power of a power rule.

    The expression simplifies to 3^8. When raising a power to a power, multiply the exponents: 2 x 4 = 8.
  4. 4

    Simplify: (2 x 5)^3

    The expression simplifies to 2^3 x 5^3, which is 8 x 125 = 1000. When raising a product to a power, apply the exponent to each factor.
  5. 5

    Simplify: (12/3)^2

    You can simplify the fraction before applying the exponent.

    The expression simplifies to 4^2, which equals 16. First simplify inside the parentheses, then square the result.
  6. 6

    Write 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 x 7 using exponents.

    The expression written using exponents is 7^5. The base is 7 and it is used as a factor 5 times.
  7. 7

    Expand 4^3 as repeated multiplication.

    The exponent shows the number of equal factors.

    The expression 4^3 expands to 4 x 4 x 4. The exponent tells how many times to use the base as a factor.
  8. 8

    Simplify: 10^5 x 10^2

    The expression simplifies to 10^7. When multiplying powers with the same base, add the exponents: 5 + 2 = 7.
  9. 9

    Simplify: 9^4 / 9^1

    Use the quotient of powers rule.

    The expression simplifies to 9^3. When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the exponents: 4 - 1 = 3.
  10. 10

    Simplify: (6^1)^5

    The expression simplifies to 6^5. Multiply the exponents: 1 x 5 = 5.
  11. 11

    Simplify: (3 x 2)^4

    Apply the exponent to both factors inside the parentheses.

    The expression simplifies to 3^4 x 2^4, which is 81 x 16 = 1296. A power of a product means each factor gets the exponent.
  12. 12

    A square has side length 2^3 units. Write an expression for its area and simplify it.

    The area is (2^3)^2, which simplifies to 2^6 or 64 square units. Area of a square is side length times side length.
  13. 13

    Simplify: 8^2 / 8^2

    Subtract the exponents first.

    The expression simplifies to 8^0, which equals 1. Any nonzero number raised to the zero power equals 1.
  14. 14

    Simplify: 2^4 x 3^4

    The expression simplifies to (2 x 3)^4, which is 6^4 or 1296. When two factors have the same exponent, they can be grouped into one product raised to that exponent.
  15. 15

    A bacteria sample doubles every hour. If it starts with 1 cell, write an exponential expression for the number of cells after 6 hours and simplify it.

    Start with 1 and multiply by 2 once each hour.

    The expression is 2^6, which equals 64. Doubling every hour means multiplying by 2 six times.
LivePhysics.com Math - Grade 6-8 - Answer Key