Exponents and Powers
ЁЯУР Formula & Cheat Sheet (English)
Quick Revision Notes: Class 7 Mathematics
Chapter: Exponents and Powers (рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ рдФрд░ рдШрд╛рдд)
1. Introduction to Exponents (рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ рдХрд╛ рдкрд░рд┐рдЪрдп)
When we need to write very large numbers compactly, we use Exponents.
- Example: $10000 = 10 \times 10 \times 10 \times 10 = 10^4$
- Here, 10 is the Base (рдЖрдзрд╛рд░) and 4 is the Exponent or Power (рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ).
- Read as: "10 raised to the power of 4" (10 рдХреА рдШрд╛рдд 4).
In general, for any non-zero rational number $a$ and a positive integer $n$: $$a^n = \underbrace{a \times a \times a \times \dots \times a}_{n \text{ times}}$$
2. Laws of Exponents (рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ рдХреЗ рдирд┐рдпрдо)
These are the fundamental rules used to simplify expressions involving exponents. Let $a$ and $b$ be non-zero integers (or rational numbers), and let $m$ and $n$ be whole numbers.
I. Multiplying Powers with the Same Base (рд╕рдорд╛рди рдЖрдзрд╛рд░ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдШрд╛рддреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдЧреБрдгрди)
To multiply two powers with the same base, add their exponents while keeping the base the same. $$a^m \times a^n = a^{m + n}$$
- Example: $2^3 \times 2^4 = 2^{3 + 4} = 2^7$
II. Dividing Powers with the Same Base (рд╕рдорд╛рди рдЖрдзрд╛рд░ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдШрд╛рддреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд┐рднрд╛рдЬрди)
To divide two powers with the same base, subtract the exponent of the denominator from the exponent of the numerator. $$a^m \div a^n = \frac{a^m}{a^n} = a^{m - n} \quad (\text{where } m > n)$$
- Example: $5^6 \div 5^2 = 5^{6 - 2} = 5^4$
III. Taking a Power of a Power (рдШрд╛рдд рдХреА рдШрд╛рдд рд▓реЗрдирд╛)
To find the power of a power, multiply the exponents while keeping the base the same. $$(a^m)^n = a^{m \times n} = a^{mn}$$
- Example: $(3^2)^4 = 3^{2 \times 4} = 3^8$
IV. Multiplying Powers with the Same Exponents (рд╕рдорд╛рди рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдШрд╛рддреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рдЧреБрдгрди)
If the bases are different but the exponents are the same, multiply the bases and keep the common exponent. $$a^m \times b^m = (a \times b)^m = (ab)^m$$
- Example: $2^3 \times 5^3 = (2 \times 5)^3 = 10^3$
V. Dividing Powers with the Same Exponents (рд╕рдорд╛рди рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рдШрд╛рддреЛрдВ рдХрд╛ рд╡рд┐рднрд╛рдЬрди)
If the bases are different but the exponents are the same, divide the bases and keep the common exponent. $$a^m \div b^m = \frac{a^m}{b^m} = \left(\frac{a}{b}\right)^m$$
- Example: $4^3 \div 2^3 = \left(\frac{4}{2}\right)^3 = 2^3$
VI. Number with Exponent Zero (рд╢реВрдиреНрдп рдШрд╛рдд рд╡рд╛рд▓реА рд╕рдВрдЦреНрдпрд╛)
Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is equal to 1. $$a^0 = 1 \quad (\text{where } a \neq 0)$$
- Example: $7^0 = 1$, $(-5)^0 = 1$, $(1000)^0 = 1$
3. Negative Exponents (рдЛрдгрд╛рддреНрдордХ рдШрд╛рддрд╛рдВрдХ)
A negative exponent indicates a reciprocal. For any non-zero integer $a$ and positive integer $n$: $$a^{-n} = \frac{1}{a^n}$$
- Example: $5^{-2} = \frac{1}{5^2} = \frac{1}{25}$
- Similarly, $\frac{1}{a^{-n}} = a^n$
4. Decimal Number System / Standard Form (рдорд╛рдирдХ рд░реВрдк / рд╡реИрдЬреНрдЮрд╛рдирд┐рдХ рд╕рдВрдХреЗрддрди)
Any numbers can be expressed as a decimal number between $1.0$ and $10.0$ (including $1.0$) multiplied by a power of $10$. This is called the Standard Form or Scientific Notation.
- Example 1 (Large Number): $85,00,000 = 8.5 \times 10,00,000 = 8.5 \times 10^6$
- Example 2 (Small Number): $0.000045 = \frac{4.5}{1,00,000} = \frac{4.5}{10^5} = 4.5 \times 10^{-5}$
5. Quick Tips for Problem Solving (рддреНрд╡рд░рд┐рдд рд╕реБрдЭрд╛рд╡)
- Prime Factorization: To express a large composite number in exponential form, first find its prime factors (рдЕрднрд╛рдЬреНрдп рдЧреБрдгрдирдЦрдВрдб).
- Example: $72 = 2 \times 2 \times 2 \times 3 \times 3 = 2^3 \times 3^2$
- Comparing Numbers: Always convert numbers into the same base or write them in standard form to compare which one is larger.
- Sign Rule for Negative Bases:
- (Negative base) Even exponent = Positive result (e.g., $(-2)^2 = +4$)
- (Negative base) Odd exponent = Negative result (e.g., $(-2)^3 = -8$)