7.2+Product+Rule

Section 7.2 - Product Rule

 * Product Rule of Exponents**


 * If you are multiplying terms with exponents, and the bases are exactly the same, just add the exponents. **

It doesn't matter if the bases are positive or negative, as long as they are both positive or both negative.

It doesn't matter if the exponents are positive or negative, just add them like you would any integers.



If one or both of the exponents is negative, you may end up with an answer that has a negative exponent. Often you will be asked to rewrite it using only positive exponents.



This video covers both Product Rule and also Quotient Rule from the next section:

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 * Product Rule with Scientific Notation**

Remember the Associative Rule of Multiplication that says if you are multiplying terms, you can do it in any order? That comes in handy in connection with the Product Rule when working with scientific notation.

Scientific notation has two parts -- the number and the exponent part with a base of 10. If you have two scientific numbers being multiplied, you could rearrange them so that you are multiplying the number parts and then the exponent parts. Nothing but your vast knowledge of multiplying decimal numbers will help with the first part, but the product rule will save considerable time on the exponent part.




 * Chapter Seven Practice Problems**

**Where to from here?**
7.1 Negative Exponents 7.2 Product Rule 7.3 Power Rule 7.4 Quotient Rule 7.5 Defining Polynomials 7.6 Adding Polynomials 7.7 Subtracting Polynomials 7.8 Multiplying Polynomials 7.9 Dividing Polynomials Chapter Seven Summary Chapter Seven Homework