Exponents are operations to do:
32 means multiply 3 by itself 2 times = (3) (3) = 9
Any non-zero number raised to the zero power equals 1.
1. a7a5 = a7+5 = a12
2. a9a-3 = a9+(-3) = a6
3. x5x-7 = x5+(-7) = x-2 =
When dividing the same base: keep the base and subtract the exponents. This is the same as reducing a fraction.
1. (a5)3 = a(5) (3) = a15
A negative exponent represents a reciprocal. Remove a negative in the exponent by taking the reciprocal. In a product or quotient, that means moving the base and exponent from the numerator to the denominator or vice-versa, changing the sign in the exponent.
Exponents only apply to a single character unless there are parentheses.