Simplify Expressions Using the Quotient Property of Exponents

Earlier in this chapter, we developed the properties of exponents for multiplication. We summarize these properties here.

Now we will look at the exponent properties for division. A quick memory refresher may help before we get started. In Fractions you learned that fractions may be simplified by dividing out common factors from the numerator and denominator using the Equivalent Fractions Property. This property will also help us work with algebraic fractions—which are also quotients.

As before, we’ll try to discover a property by looking at some examples.

Let’s look at dividing terms containing exponential expressions. What happens if you divide two numbers in exponential form with the same base? Consider the following expression.

[latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{4}^{5}}}{{{4}^{2}}}[/latex]

You can rewrite the expression as: [latex]\displaystyle \frac{4\cdot 4\cdot 4\cdot 4\cdot 4}{4\cdot 4}[/latex]. Then you can cancel the common factors of [latex]4[/latex] in the numerator and denominator: [latex]\displaystyle[/latex]

Finally, this expression can be rewritten as [latex]4^{3}[/latex] using exponential notation. Notice that the exponent, [latex]3[/latex], is the difference between the two exponents in the original expression, [latex]5[/latex] and [latex]2[/latex].

So, [latex]\displaystyle \frac{{{4}^{5}}}{{{4}^{2}}}=4^{5-2}=4^{3}[/latex].

Now, let’s consider an example in which the base is the variable [latex]x[/latex].

[latex]\begin{array}{cccccccccc}\text{Consider}\hfill & & & \hfill {\Large\frac{{x}^{5}}{{x}^{2}}}\hfill & & & \text{and}\hfill & & & \hfill {\Large\frac{{x}^{2}}{{x}^{3}}}\hfill \\ \text{What do they mean?}\hfill & & & \hfill {\Large\frac{x\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x}{x\cdot x}}\hfill & & & & & & \hfill {\Large\frac{x\cdot x}{x\cdot x\cdot x}}\hfill \\ \text{Use the Equivalent Fractions Property.}\hfill & & & \hfill \frac{\overline{)x}\cdot \overline{)x}\cdot x\cdot x\cdot x}{\overline{)x}\cdot \overline{)x}\cdot 1}\hfill & & & & & & \hfill \frac{\overline{)x}\cdot \overline{)x}\cdot 1}{\overline{)x}\cdot \overline{)x}\cdot x}\hfill \\ \text{Simplify.}\hfill & & & \hfill {x}^{3}\hfill & & & & & & \hfill {\Large\frac{1}{x}}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

Notice that in each case the bases were the same and we subtracted the exponents.  So, to divide two exponential terms with the same base, subtract the exponents.

• When the larger exponent was in the numerator, we were left with factors in the numerator and [latex]1[/latex] in the denominator, which we simplified.
• When the larger exponent was in the denominator, we were left with factors in the denominator, and [latex]1[/latex] in the numerator, which could not be simplified.

We write:

[latex]\begin{array}{ccccc}\frac{{x}^{5}}{{x}^{2}}\hfill & & & & \hfill \frac{{x}^{2}}{{x}^{3}}\hfill \\ {x}^{5 - 2}\hfill & & & & \hfill \frac{1}{{x}^{3 - 2}}\hfill \\ {x}^{3}\hfill & & & & \hfill \frac{1}{x}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

A couple of examples with numbers may help to verify this property.

[latex]\begin{array}{cccc}\frac{{3}^{4}}{{3}^{2}}\stackrel{?}{=}{3}^{4 - 2}\hfill & & & \hfill \frac{{5}^{2}}{{5}^{3}}\stackrel{?}{=}\frac{1}{{5}^{3 - 2}}\hfill \\ \frac{81}{9}\stackrel{?}{=}{3}^{2}\hfill & & & \hfill \frac{25}{125}\stackrel{?}{=}\frac{1}{{5}^{1}}\hfill \\ 9=9 \hfill & & & \hfill \frac{1}{5}=\frac{1}{5}\hfill \end{array}[/latex]

When we work with numbers and the exponent is less than or equal to [latex]3[/latex], we will apply the exponent. When the exponent is greater than [latex]3[/latex] , we leave the answer in exponential form.

Notice that when the larger exponent is in the numerator, we are left with factors in the numerator.

Notice that when the larger exponent is in the denominator, we are left with factors in the denominator and [latex]1[/latex] in the numerator.

Now let’s see if you can determine when you will end up with factors in the denominator, and when you will end up with factors in the numerator.

When dividing terms that also contain coefficients, divide the coefficients and then divide variable powers with the same base by subtracting the exponents.

Watch the following video for more examples of how to simplify quotients that contain exponents. Pay attention to the last example where we demonstrate the difference between subtracting terms with exponents, and subtracting exponents to simplify a quotient.

Simplify Quotients Raised to a Power

Now we will look at an example that will lead us to the Quotient to a Power Property.

Now let’s look at what happens if you raise a quotient to a power. Remember that quotient means divide. Suppose you have [latex]\displaystyle \frac{3}{4}[/latex] and raise it to the [latex]3^rd[/latex]power.

[latex]\displaystyle {{\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)}^{3}}=\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)\left( \frac{3}{4} \right)=\frac{3\cdot 3\cdot 3}{4\cdot 4\cdot 4}=\frac{{{3}^{3}}}{{{4}^{3}}}[/latex]

You can see that raising the quotient to the power of [latex]3[/latex] can also be written as the numerator [latex](3)[/latex] to the power of [latex]3[/latex], and the denominator [latex](4)[/latex] to the power of [latex]3[/latex].

Similarly, if you are using variables, the quotient raised to a power is equal to the numerator raised to the power over the denominator raised to power.

Notice that the exponent applies to both the numerator and the denominator.  This leads to the Quotient to a Power Property for Exponents.

An example with numbers may help you understand this property:

For more examples of how to simplify a quotient raised to a power, watch the following video.

In the following video you will be shown examples of simplifying quotients that are raised to a power.