1.4: Defining a Power

Exponential Notation:

ex. 2x2x2x2x2 = 2⁵

ex. 2x2x2x2x2x2= 2⁶

ex. 2x2x2x2x2x2x2= 2⁷ 

Notes:

• Even number of negative signs= positive number
• Odd number of negative signs= negative number

• –2⁶ is ONLY putting the ‘2’ to the power of 5, NOT the negative. Therefore, the answer would still be negative because (-)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2) = -64
• (-2)⁶ is putting BOTH the ‘2’ AND the ‘-‘ to the power of 6. Therefor, the answer should be positive because (-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2)(-2) has 6 negative signs, and 6 is a even number.
• ANYTHING to the power of ‘0’ equals ‘1’