Evaluating exponent expressions word problems



A mathematical expression can consist of different variables, numbers and exponents. The exponent is the power of the number or the variables. The exponent tell the number of times the base variable or number is to be multiplied. Evaluating exponent expressions means finding the unknown and solving the given expression. There can be word problems containing exponent expressions. In such questions the word problem needs to be analyzed and further solved.

Example 1: Jim was doing his homework and solving for the expression.
Find the value of m: 16 = 2 m
Solution: Here the exponent expression is given 16 = 2m.
Hence the number can be factorized as 16 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2.
(The number 2 is multiplied four times so 2 is raised to the power 4.)
Now the number can be written in the exponent form as: 16 = 24.
Now equating the number to the given expression: 5m = 24.
Since the base numbers for the expressions are equal equate the powers.
Hence the answer is m = 4.
Question: Multiple choice question (Pick the correct option.)
Find the answer to the exponent expression (1/3)0?
a)    1/3                   b) 0                 c) 1                 d) None of these.
Correct answer: option c.
The given exponent expression (1/3)0 has exponent zero.
Any number or variable raised to the power zero equal to 1.
This rule can be written as” a0 = 1. (Here ‘a’ is any value.)
Hence the exponent expression for (1/3)0 = 1.

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