# Laws of Exponents (Index Laws)

$\textbf{Laws of Exponents (Index Laws)}$

$a^x \times a^y = a^{x+y}$
To $\textit{multiply}$ numbers with the $\textit{same base}$, keep the base and $\textit{add}$ the exponents.

$\dfrac{a^x}{a^y} = a^x \div a^y = a^{x-y}$
To $\textit{divide}$ numbers with the $\textit{same base}$, keep the base and $\textit{substract}$ the exponents.

$(a^x)^y = a^{x \times y}$
When $\textit{raising a power to a power}$, keep the base and $\textit{multiply}$ the exponents.

$(ab)^x = a^xb^x$
The power of a product is the product of the powers.

$\Big(\dfrac{a}{b}\Big)^x = \dfrac{a^x}{b^y}, b \ne 0$
The power of a quotient is the quotient of the powers.

$a^0 = 1, a \ne 0$
Any non-zero number raised to the power of zero is 1.

$a^{-x} = \dfrac{1}{a^x}$ and $\dfrac{1}{a^{-x}} = a^x, a \ne 0$

### Example 1

Simplify $a^5 \times a^6$ using Laws of Exponents (Index Laws).

### Example 2

Simplify $\dfrac{a^7}{a^3}$.

### Example 3

Simplify $(a^3)^4$.

### Example 4

Simplify $(a^2b^3)^4$.

### Example 5

Write $\dfrac{a^{-2}}{b^{-3}}$ without negative exponents.