Exponents and Variables: Zero and Negative Exponents

Zero-Exponent Rule:

This means that anything raised to the zero power is 1. For example: (number zero is an exception:  )

-  A negative exponent simply means that the base is on the wrong side of the fraction line, so you need to flip the base to the other side.

For instance, "" (pronounced as "ecks to the minus two") just means "” but underneath, as in .
 

Examples:

Example 1.  Evaluate.
Solution: Use negative exponent’s rule:
Then:

Example 2.  Evaluate.
Solution: Use negative exponent’s rule:
Then:

Example 3.  Evaluate.
Solution: Use zero-exponent Rule:
Then:

Example 4.  Evaluate.
Solution: Use negative exponent’s rule: