Evaluating

Evaluate Exponents

exponent

Base

To evaluate means to simplify an expression or to substitute a value in for a variable and then simplify. When you evaluate expressions with exponents it is important to distinguish the base from the exponent. The exponent tells us how many times to multiply the base by itself. The expression is read as x to the a power.

For example = x x x x

• read as x to the 4^th power
• multiply x times itself 4 times

Calculator tips: to raise a number to a power in a calculator:

• Enter the base
• Press the ^ button
• Enter the base
• Equal

For example would look like 5^4 in the calculator.

Let’s practice !!

Example 1 : = 3 3 = 9

Example 2 : = 3 3 3 = 27

Example 3 : = 3 3 3 3 = 81

Example 5 : = 3 3 3 3 3 = 243

It works exactly the same when a variable is the base .

Example 6 : = x x

Example 7 : = y y y y y

Let’s evaluate with multiple variables.

Remember that if a variable doesn’t have an exponent, the exponent is the “understood 1”.

Example 8 : is the same as . When you expand it will look like a a b where a is multiplied by itself twice and b once.

Example 9 : Evaluate when x = 4 and y = 2

Substitute = (4)

Expand = 4 2 2 2

Simplify = 32

Last words : Remember that the exponent tells us how many times a number or variable is multiplied by itself. When using the calculator the “^” button is the “exponent” button.