Pre Algebra Periods 1, 2, & 4

Dividing Powers with Like Bases

m⁸
___ = m ^{8 - 5} = m³
m⁵


m³
__ = m ^{3 - 5} = m^-2
m⁵


1
__

m²




5⁶
_____ = 5 ^{6 - 8} = 5^-2 =
5⁸


1
__
5²



1
__

25

b³
__
b⁹

written without a fraction bar is

b^3-9 = b ^-6

Any number raised to the ZERO POWER is equal to 1

PROOF:

aⁿ
____
aⁿ

= 1 but it also equals a^n-n or a⁰
for every a , except a cannot equal zero!!