SOLUTION: I do not under stand the laws of indices of algebra. I am in the 8 grade

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Question 258139: I do not under stand the laws of indices of algebra. I am in the 8 grade
Found 2 solutions by Edwin McCravy, richwmiller:
Answer by Edwin McCravy(20064) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

An expression like 3%5E5 is called an exponential.
The 3 is called the "base" and the 5 is
called the "exponent".


1. x%5Em%2Ax%5En=x%5E%28m%2Bn%29

When you multiply two exponentials with the same base, you
keep the same base and add the exponents:

Examples:  2%5E3%2A2%5E4=2%5E7,   a%5E5%2Aa%5E6=a%5E11,     

2.  %28x%5Em%29%2F%28x%5En%29=x%5E%28m-n%29 when m > n

When you divide two exponentials with the same base, if
the exponent on top is larger than the exponent on the bottom
you keep the same base and subtract the bottom exponent from
the top exponent.

Examples:  %283%5E7%29%2F%283%5E2%29=3%5E5,  %28y%5E8%29%2F%28y%5E2%29=y%5E6   


3.  x%5Em%29%2F%28x%5En%29=1%2F%28x%5E%28n-m%29%29 when n > m

When you divide two exponentials with the same base, if
the exponent on the bottom is larger than the exponent on the top
you keep the same base and subtract the top exponent from
the bottom exponent, AND PUT 1 OVER THE RESULT.

Examples: 5%5E3%2F5%5E9=1%2F5%5E6,   w%5E4%2Fw%5E7=1%2Fw%5E3      

4. %28x%5Em%29%5En=x%5E%28mn%29

When there is an inner exponent (inside parentheses) and
an outer exponent (outside the parentheses, you remove the 
parentheses by multiplying the inner exponent by the
outer exponent.

Examples:  %287%5E4%29%5E3+=+7%5E12,   %28p%5E5%29%5E4+=+p%5E20   

5.  %28x%2Ay%29%5Em=x%5Em%2Ay%5Em

When the base is a product of factors inside parentheses, you can
remove the parentheses by giving the exponent to both factors.

Examples:  %282%2A3%29%5E4=2%5E4%2A3%5E4,   %28ab%29%5E5=a%5E5%2Ab%5E5 

6.  %28x%2Fy%29%5Em+=+%28x%5Em%29%2F%28y%5Em%29

When the base is a fraction inside parentheses, you can
remove the parentheses by giving the exponent to both the
numerator and the denominator.

Examples: %282%2F3%29%5E4=%282%5E4%29%2F%283%5E4%29,  %28p%2Fq%29%5E7=%28p%5E7%29%2F%28q%5E7%29

Edwin


Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Laws of Indices has to do with exponents or powers
There are three well known laws
x%5Ey%2Ax%5Ez=x%5E%28y%2Bz%29
We are multiplying the base x but adding the exponents.
Similarly when we divide we subtract.
x%5Ey%2Fx%5Ez=x%5E%28y-z%29
We again are dividing the base x.
Now the different one.
We are multiplying the exponents
%28x%5Ey%29%5Ez=x%5E%28yz%29
Notice we only see x once.
Test:
x^2*x^3=
a)x^5
b)x^6
c) x
d)1/x

x(^3)^2
a)x^5
b)x^6
c) x
d)1/x
x^3/x^2
a)x^5
b)x^6
c) x
d)1/x
Something not mentioned is how to deal with fractional and negative powers.