Negative or zero exponent
Why is 20 = 1? And what does a negative exponent mean?
Students can discover the answers to these questions on their own! Simply present them the lists below, and ask them to find a PATTERN in them:
25 =
32 24 = 16 23 = 22 = 21 = 20 = |
35 =
243 34 = 81 33 = 32 = 31 = 30 = |
105 =
100,000 104 = 10,000 103 = 102 = 101 = 100 = |
The pattern is that you divide by the same number at each step, either by 2, 3 or 10. This automatically leads to the facts that 20 = 1, 30 = 1, and 100 = 1. We could do the same process for other numbers, too, and it would work the same way. So at least for all positive whole numbers a it is true that a0 = 1.
The video below shows the same idea: teaching zero exponent starting with a pattern. This justifies the rule and makes it logical, instead of just a piece of "announced" mathematics without proof. The video also shows another idea for justifying this: we can multiply powers of the same base, and conclude from that what a number to zeroth power must be.
You can try if the same works for negative numbers (negative base) - and it does! You just divide by that negative number at each step (here by negative 2):
(−2)5 =
−32 (−2)4 = 16 (−2)3 = −8 (−2)2 = 4 (−2)1 = −2 (−2)0 = 1 |
Next, continue the same pattern even more - and you'll enter the negative exponents. Write down the following tables without the answers, and ask the students to complete it. When done, ask if they notice any patterns.
At every step divide by 2 23 =
8 |
At every step divide by 3 33 = 27 |
At every
step divide by 10 103 = 1000 |
After you have noted the patterns together, ask the students to continue the tables in both directions. Also ask them to write one with number 4 and with −2.
Then, let's look at the columns a little more closely.
At every step divide by 2 23 = 8 |
At every step divide by 3 33 = 27 |
Based on this observation, ask the students, what about 2−5 ? The answer we want is of course that 2−5 = 1/25. Similarly, 4−7 = 1/47. This observation is usually stated as the definition for negative exponents, and now you know where it came from! In other words, the definition says to take the reciprocal of the base number, and raise it to the corresponding positive power.
The video below also explains this same idea: teaching negative exponents based on a pattern.
What about if the base is negative? How is (−3)−2 done?
Follow the same principle as above. Divide by −3 at each step. The sign of the answers alternates.
Or, you can use the definition: (−3)−2 = 1/(−3)2 = 1/9 (−3)−3 = 1/(−3)3 = 1/(−27) = −1/27 etc. |
Are there any games can play with the concept of negative exponents once the kids have grasped it?
I have not found any games on this on the internet (let me know if you have one!). Here are some simple suggestions for games you can make yourself.
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What about if the base is a fraction?
You can again chart the different powers of 1/5 and look for a pattern.
You will see that at each successive step, you multiply by 5. Why? If you just took the idea from above (where we divided by the same number at each step), you'd divide by 1/5 at each step. But, you should know from fraction division that dividing any number by 1/5 is the same as multiplying the number by the reciprocal of 1/5, which is 5. So dividing by 1/5 is the same as multiplying by 5. Continuing the chart:
Or, you could use the definition, which says to take the reciprocal of the number raised to the positive exponent. So for example,
See also: Worksheets for negative and zero exponents Are Negative Exponents Like Other Exponents?
n to 0 power Decimal Exponents Meaning of Irrational Exponents
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