Exponents

For any rational number a and a positive integer n,

an  = axaxaxa….xa ( n times)

an is called the nth  th power of a and is also read as a raised to the power n. The rational number ‘a’ is called the base and N is called the exponent or power or index.

Eg. In 65. , 6 is called the base and 5 is called power.

• A negative rational number raised to an even power is positive.

• A negative rational number raised to an odd power is negative.