Skip to Main Content
This is a free sample lesson. Sign up for Magoosh to get access to over 200 video lessons.

Intro to Exponents

Can't listen to audio right now? Turn on captions.
Summary
The content provides a foundational understanding of powers and roots, focusing on the concept of exponents as a means to express extensive multiplication succinctly.
  • Exponents represent a compact way to express repeated multiplication, with the base raised to the power of the exponent indicating the number of times the base is multiplied by itself.
  • The definition of exponents is initially limited to positive integers, but it is noted that this will expand to include negative and fractional exponents in future discussions.
  • Key properties of exponents include the behavior of powers when the base is 1 or 0, and the alternating positive and negative outcomes when raising negative numbers to even or odd powers, respectively.
  • Understanding the implications of exponents is crucial for solving algebraic equations, particularly recognizing when equations have no solution or multiple solutions.
  • Memorizing the basic powers of single-digit numbers up to a certain point is recommended for ease of calculation and application of exponent rules.
Chapters
00:01
Understanding Exponents
02:40
Properties of Exponents
05:59
Solving Equations with Exponents
07:00
Memorizing Powers for the GRE

Next Lesson

Powers and Roots