Negative Exponents
Oh Joy!
Nick Hershman
Class/Subject
2009-2010
Overview
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman I realize that may not seem funny.
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Overview
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without negative exponents”
– Justin Bieber
“Some days before I eat breakfast I calculate the half-life of
radioactive isotopes. I do this using my unmatched skill in wieleding
negative exponents.”
– Shaq
e = mc −2
1
–
Albert Einstein
– Hershman I realize that may not seem funny. It isn’t.
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 2/6
Positive Exponents
A power consists of two parts: baseexponent .
For example:
x3
(2x)3
e iπ
A number or variable without an exponent is still a power.
Unwritten exponents are understood to be 1.
4g = 41 g 1
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 3/6
Negative exponents−4 don’t come from storks.
28
= 23
25
So, it would follow that
25
= 20 = 1
25
And also that:
25 1
8
= 2−3 or 3
2 2
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 4/6
NEVER DO THIS
23 · 32 = 65
Or this.
2−3 = −8
In fact:
23 · 32 = 23 32
8 · 9 = 72 65 = 7776
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 5/6
2 −3 42
4 ·2 = 3
2
16 2 −3
= 4 x
x3
3x 3 x8
−5
=
9x 3
Nick Hershman (Math
c Hershman) Negative Exponents 2009-2010 6/6
