exponents

Joyce N.
14 words 367 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. exponent
    notation of how many times to multiply a quantity by itself
    Exponents are shorthand for repeated multiplication of the same thing by itself.
  2. equal sign
    a sign indicating that the quantities on either side are equal
    For instance, the shorthand for multiplying three copies of the number 5 is shown on the right-hand side of the "equals" sign in (5)(5)(5) = 53.
  3. multiply
    combine by adding the same number repeatedly
    For instance, the shorthand for multiplying three copies of the number 5 is shown on the right-hand side of the "equals" sign in (5)(5)(5) = 53.
  4. cube
    a three-dimensional figure with six equal squares as faces
    There are two specially-named powers: "to the second power" is generally pronounced as "squared", and "to the third power" is generally pronounced as "cubed".
  5. distribute
    give to several people
    Exponents, unlike mulitiplication, do NOT "distribute" over addition.
  6. multiplication
    arithmetic operation determining the product of two numbers
    Exponents are shorthand for repeated multiplication of the same thing by itself.
  7. bracket
    either of two punctuation marks used to enclose text
    In practice, though, this rule means that some exercises may be a lot easier than they may at first appear:

    Simplify [(3x4y7z12)5 (–5x9y3z4)2]0
    Who cares about that stuff inside the square brackets?
  8. variable
    something that is likely to change
    But with variables, we need the exponents, because we'd rather deal with "x6" than with "xxxxxx".
  9. square
    a polygon with four equal sides and four right angles
    There are two specially-named powers: "to the second power" is generally pronounced as "squared", and "to the third power" is generally pronounced as "cubed".
  10. factor
    anything that contributes causally to a result
    Using this fact, I can "expand" the two factors, and then work backwards to the simplified form:

    (x3)(x4) = (xxx)(xxxx)
    = xxxxxxx
    = x7

    Note that x7 also equals x(3+4).
  11. addition
    the arithmetic operation of summing
    Exponents, unlike mulitiplication, do NOT "distribute" over addition.
  12. product
    an artifact that has been created by someone or some process
    This demonstrates the second exponent rule: Whenever you have an exponent expression that is raised to a power, you can multiply the exponent and power:

    ( xm ) n = x m n

    If you have a product inside parentheses, and a power on the parentheses, then the power goes on each element inside.
  13. element
    a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances
    This demonstrates the second exponent rule: Whenever you have an exponent expression that is raised to a power, you can multiply the exponent and power:

    ( xm ) n = x m n

    If you have a product inside parentheses, and a power on the parentheses, then the power goes on each element inside.
  14. sum
    a quantity obtained by the addition of a group of numbers
    Another example would be:



    Warning: This rule does NOT work if you have a sum or difference within the parentheses.
Created on Thu Mar 03 15:57:27 EST 2011

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