Vocabulary

Monomial - An expression in algebra that contains one term, like 3a.

Power – It is the product of multiplying a number by itself. Usually, a power is represented with a base number and an exponent.

Exponent - A small number written above and to the right of the base number, tells how many times the base number is being multiplied.

Base - A number that tells what number is being multiplied.

Concept

Expand exponential expressions.

Rules

Write the power as a product, using the exponent as the number of times the factor should be written.  

Remember, a product is the outcome of numbers that are multiplied together.   

Example

Which expansion matches the exponential expression.

(-3)⁴

Solution

The exponent 4 indicates that the base (-3) is multiplied by itself 4 times.

 (-3)⁴ = (-3) ∙ (-3) ∙ (-3) ∙ (-3)

Pre-requisite Skills

Powers & Exponents (8.1.2)

Write Exponents (6.1.4)