Laws of Exponents
The Laws of Exponents, also known as the Rules of Exponents, are a set of rules that describe how to
handle mathematical operations involving exponents or powers. These laws apply when working with
powers of the same base. Below are the main laws:
am × an = am+n
(am)n = amn
(a × b)m = am × bm or (ab)m = am × bm
a0 =1, (a ≠ 0)
am ÷ an = am – n
bmam=(ba)m
a−m=am1
Note :
(am)n=amn
E.g.,
(23)2=23×2=26=64and232=29=512
1.0Scientific Notation
The Sun is located at a distance of 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 km from the center of milky way. The
average size of an atom is about 0.00000003 centimetre across.
The length of these numbers in standard notation makes them awkward to work with. Scientific notation
is a shorthand way of writing such numbers.
To express any number in scientific notation, write it as the product of a power of ten and a number
greater than or equal to 1 but less than 10.
In scientific notation, the Sun is located at a distance of 1.0 × 1018 m from the centre of milky way and
the size of each atom is 3.0 × 10–8 centimetres across.
2.0Astronomy Calculation
The distance between the Sun and the Moon is 1.49984 × 1011 m and the distance between the Moon
and the Earth is 3.84 × 108 m. During the Lunar eclipse, the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.
The distance between the Sun and the Earth at this time.
Distance between:
The Sun and the Moon = 1.49984 × 1011 m
The Moon and the Earth = 3.84 × 108 m
The Sun and the Earth = 1.49984 × 1011 – 3.84 × 108
= 1.49984 × 1000 × 108 – 3.84 × 108
= 1499.84 × 108 – 3.84 × 108
= (1499.84 – 3.84) × 108
= 1496 × 108
= 1.496 × 1011 m
3.0Solved Examples
1.Simplify and write the answer in an exponential form.
(i) (37 ÷ 311)3 × 3–8
(ii) [(76)3]2×[(76)−4]2
Solution
(i) (37 ÷ 311)3 × 3–8
= (37–11)3 × 3–8 = (3–4)3 × 3–8 = 3–12 × 3–8 = 3–12 + (–8)
= 3–20 = 3201
(ii)[(76)3]2×[(76)−4]2=(76)3×2×(76)−4×2
=(76)6×(76)−8=(76)6+(−8)=(76)−2=(67)2
2.Find the value of x.
(7−11)−5×(7−11)x=(7−11)3
Solution
(7−11)−5×(7−11)x=(7−11)3
(7−11)(−5)+x=(7−11)3
Since, the base is same on both sides of the expression, their exponents should also be the same.
⇒ –5 + x = 3 ⇒ x = 3 + 5
∴x=8
3.Find the value of the following using laws of exponents.
(i) 102×34×781×73×100
(ii) 8×(−2)5×2728×34
Solution
(i) 102×34×734×73×102=34−4×73−1×102−2=30×72×100
= 1 × 49 × 1 = 49
(ii) 23×(−1)5×(25)×3328×34=(−1)28−3−5×34−3
= –1 × 20 × 3 = – 1 × 3 = – 3 (20 = 1)
4.By what number should (3−2)−3be divided so that the quotient may be (274)−2 ?
Solution
(3−2)−3÷X=(274)−2
X=(3−2)−3÷(274)−2=(3−2)−3×(3322)2=(−1−3)(3−3+62−3+4)=33−2=27−2
5.By what number should (4)–3 be multiplied so that the product become ?
Solution
(4)−3×Z=161⟹Z=421÷(4)−3
Z=421÷431⇒ 421×43=43−2=4
6.Write the numbers in the standard form.
(i) 0.00925
(ii) 457000000
(iii) 0.32458
Solution
(i) 0.00925 = 9.25 × 10–3
(ii) 457000000 = 4.57 × 108
(iii) 0.32458 = 3.2458 × 10–1
7. Express the following in scientific notation.
(i) The weight of the earth is about 6,600,000,000,000,000,000,000 metric tons.
(ii) The speed of light is 300,000,000 metres per second.
(iii) The distance between the earth and moon is 382,000 km.
(iv) The surface area of the earth is 510,200,000 km2.
Solution
(i) 6.6 × 1021 metric tons
(ii) 3 × 108 meters per second
(iii) 3.82 × 105 km
(iv) 5.102 × 108 km2
8.The thickness of a sheet of paper is 1.6 × 10–3 cm and the thickness of a human hair is 5 × 10–3 cm.
Compare them.
Solution
Thickness of paperThickness of hair=1.6×10−35×10−3=1.65×10−3×103=1.65=3.125
The hair is approximately three times thicker than the paper.
