Exponents and Variables: Multiplication Property of Exponents

-  Exponents are shorthand for repeated multiplication of the same number by itself.

For example, instead of , we can write . For , we can write

-  In algebra, a variable is a letter used to stand for a number.

The most common letters are: and.
-  Exponent’s rules:

 

Examples:

Example 1.  Multiply.
Solution: Use Exponent’s rules:
Then:

Example 2.  Simplify.
Solution: Use Exponent’s rules: .
Then:

Example 3.  Multiply.
Solution: Use Exponent’s rules:
Then:

Example 4.  Simplify.
Solution: Use Exponent’s rules: .
Then: