1. Ch 8.1 – Multiplication Property of Exponents
Algebra 1
Ch 8.1 – Multiplication Property of Exponents

2. Objective
Students will use the properties of exponents to multiply exponential expressions

3. Before we begin
In chapter 8 we will be looking at exponents and exponential functions…
That is, we will be looking at how to add, subtract, multiply and divide exponents…
Once we have done that…we will apply what we have learned to simplifying expressions and solving equations…
Before we do that…let’s do a quick review of what exponents are and how they work…

4. 54 Review 5 ● 5 ● 5 ● 5 The above number is an exponential expression.
Power or Exponent
Base
The above number is an exponential expression.
The components of an exponential expression contain a base and a power
The power (exponent) tells the base how many times to multiply itself
In this example the exponent (4) tells the base (5) to multiply itself 4 times and looks like this:
5 ● 5 ● 5 ● 5

5. 54 Review – Common Error 5 ● 5 ● 5 ● 5 = 625 5 ● 4 = 20
A common error that student’s make is they multiply the base times the exponent. THAT IS INCORRECT! Let’s make a comparison:
5 ● 5 ● 5 ● 5 = 625
Correct:
5 ● 4 = 20
INCORRECT

6. One more thing…
When working with exponents, the exponent only applies to the number or variable directly to the left of the exponent.
Example: 3x4y
In this example the exponent (4) only applies to the x
If you have an expression in brackets. The exponent applies to each term within the brackets
Example: (3x)2
In this example the exponent (2) applies to the 3 and the x

7. Properties
In this lesson we will focus on the multiplication properties of exponents…
There are a total of 3 properties that you will be expected to know how to work with. They are:
Product of Powers Property
Power of a Power Property
Power of a Product Property
This gets confusing for students because all the names sound the same…
Let’s look at each one individually…

8. Product of Powers Property
To multiply powers having the same base, add the exponents.
Example:
am ● an = am+n
Proof:
Three factors
a2 ● a3 =
a ● a
● a ● a ● a =
a2 + 3 = a5
Two factors

9. Example #1 53 ● 56 53 ● 56 = 53+6 = 59 Solution:
When analyzing this expression, I notice that the base (5) is the same.
That means I will use the Product of Powers Property, which states when multiplying, if the base is the same add the exponents.
Solution:
53 ● 56 = 53+6 = 59

10. Example #2 x2 ● x3 ● x4 x2 ● x3 ● x4 = x2+3+4 = x9 Solution:
When analyzing this expression, I notice that the base (x) is the same.
That means I will use the Product of Powers Property, which states when multiplying, if the base is the same add the exponents.
Solution:
x2 ● x3 ● x4 = x2+3+4 = x9

11. Power of a Power Property
To find a power of a power, multiply the exponents
Example:
(am)n = am●n
Proof:
Three factors
(a2)3 = a2●3
= a2 ● a2 ● a2
= a ● a ● a ● a ● a ● a = a6
Six factors

12. Example #3 (35)2 (35)2 = 35●2 = 310 Solution:
When I analyze this expression, I see that I am multiplying exponents
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Power Property to simplify the expression, which states to find the power of a power, multiply the exponents.
Solution:
(35)2 = 35●2 = 310

13. Example #4 [(a + 1)2]5 [(a + 1)2]5 = (a + 1)2●5 = (a + 1)10 Solution:
When I analyze this expression, I see that I am multiplying exponents
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Power Property to simplify the expression, which states to find the power of a power, multiply the exponents.
Solution:
[(a + 1)2]5 = (a + 1)2●5 = (a + 1)10

14. Power of a Product Property
To find a power of a product, find the power of each factor and multiply
Example:
(a ● b)m = am ● bm
This property is similar to the distributive property that you are expected to know. In this property essentially you are distributing the exponent to each term within the parenthesis

15. Example #5 (6 ● 5)2 (6 ● 5)2 = 62 ● 52 = 36 ● 25 = 900 Solution:
When I analyze this expression, I see that I need to find the power of a product
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Product Property , which states to find the power of a product, find the power of each factor and multiply
Solution:
(6 ● 5)2 = 62 ● 52 = 36 ● 25 = 900

16. Example #6 (4yz)3 (4yz)3 = 43y3z3 = 64y3z3 Solution:
When I analyze this expression, I see that I need to find the power of a product
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Product Property , which states to find the power of a product, find the power of each factor and multiply
Solution:
(4yz)3
= 43y3z3
= 64y3z3

17. Example # 7 (-2w)2 (-2w)2 = (-2 ● w)2 = (-2)2 ● w2 = 4w2 Solution:
When I analyze this expression, I see that I need to find the power of a product
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Product Property , which states to find the power of a product, find the power of each factor and multiply
Solution:
(-2w)2
= (-2 ● w)2
= (-2)2 ● w2
= 4w2
Caution: It is expected that you know -22 = (-2)●(-2) = +4

18. Example #8 – (2w)2 – (2w)2 = – (2 ● w)2 = – (22 ● w2) = – 4w2
When I analyze this expression, I see that I need to find the power of a product
Therefore, I will use the Power of a Product Property , which states to find the power of a product, find the power of each factor and multiply
Solution:
– (2w)2
= – (2 ● w)2
= – (22 ● w2)
= – 4w2
Caution: In this example the negative sign is outside the brackets. It does not mean that the 2 inside the parenthesis is negative!

19. Using all 3 properties
Ok…now that we have looked at each property individually…
let’s apply what we have learned and look at simplifying an expression that contains all 3 properties
Again, the key here is to analyze the expression first…

20. Example #9 Simplify (4x2y)3 ● x5 (4x2y)3 (4x2y)3 ● x5
I see that I have a power of a product in this expression
Let’s simplify that first by applying the exponent 3 to each term within the parenthesis
(4x2y)3 ● x5
= 43 ●(x2)3 ● y3 ● x5
(x2)3
I now see that I have a power of a power in this expression
Let’s simplify that next by multiplying the exponents
= 43 ●(x2)3 ● y3 ● x5
= 43 ● x6 ● y3 ● x5

21. Example #9 (Continued) = 43 ● x6 ● y3 ● x5 = 43 ● x11 ● y3
I now see that I have x6 and x5, so I will use the product of powers property which states if the base is the same add the exponents. Which looks like this:
= 43 ● x11 ● y3
All that’s left to do is simplify the term 43
= 64 ● x11 ● y3
= 64x11y3

22. Comments These concepts are relatively simple…
As you can see, to be successful here the key is to analyze the expression first…and then lay out your work in an organized step by step fashion…as I have illustrated.
As a reminder, for the remainder of this course all the problems will be multi-step…
Therefore, you will be expected to know these properties and apply them in different situations later on in the course when we work with polynomials and factoring…

23. Comments
On the next couple of slides are some practice problems…The answers are on the last slide…
Do the practice and then check your answers…If you do not get the same answer you must question what you did…go back and problem solve to find the error…
If you cannot find the error bring your work to me and I will help…

24. Your Turn Simplify the expressions c ● c ● c x4 ● x5 (43)3 (y4)5

25. Your Turn Simplify the expressions (x3y5)4 [(2x + 3)3]2 (3b)3 ● b
(abc2)3(a2b)2
–(r2st3)2(s4t)3