Laws of Exponents Outline

The laws or rules of exponents are important since you need to memorize them -- they're not provided on the GED formulas sheet. These can show up anywhere on the test.

The Exponent Rules:

• $\Large x^a \cdot x^b = (x^a)(x^b) = x^{a+b}$
• $\Large x^a \div x^b = \frac{x^a}{x^b} = x^{a-b}$
• $\Large x^{-a} = 1/ x^a$
• $\Large x^{-\frac{1}{n}} = \dfrac{1}{x^{\frac{1}{n}}}$
• $\Large x^1 = x$
• $\Large x^0 = 1$

These rules are essential for simplifying expressions and solving equations involving exponents. They apply to both variables and numbers.

Make sure to practice them using the flashcards. (Just do a search on "exponents" using the Home screen Search feature.)

© 2026 Pickut Technologies, Inc. · All rights reserved.

MathOtter™ is a trademark of Pickut Technologies, Inc.