Power of Literal Quantities

Power of literal quantities means when a quantity is multiplied by itself, any number of times, the product is called a power of that quantity. This product is expressed by writing the number of factors in it to the right of the quantity and slightly raised.

For example:

(i) m × m has two factors so to express it we can write m × m = m²

(ii) b × b × b has three factors so to express it we can write b × b × b = b³

(iii) z × z × z × z × z × z × z has seven factors so to express it we can write z × z × z × z × z × z × z = z⁷

Learn how to read and write the power of literal quantities.

(i) Product of x × x is written as x² and it is read as x squared or x raised to the power 2.



(ii) Product of y × y × y is written as y³ and it is read as y cubed or y raised to the power 3.

(iii) Product of n × n × n × n is written as n⁴ and it is read as forth power of n or n raised to the power 4.

(iv) Product of 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 is written as 3⁵ and it is read as fifth power of 3 or 3 raised to the power 5.

How to identify the base and exponent of the power of the given quantity?

(i) In a⁵ here a is called the base and 5 is called the exponent or index or power.

(ii) In Mⁿ here M is called the base and n is called the exponent or index or power.

Solved examples:

1. Write a × a × b × b × b in index form.

a × a × b × b × b = a²b³

2. Express 5 × m × m × m × n × n in power form.

5 × m × m × m × n × n = 5m³n²

3. Express -5 × 3 × p × q × q × r in exponent form.

-5 × 3 × p × q × q × r = -15pq²r

4. Write 3x³y⁴ in product form.

3x³y⁴ = 3 × x × x × x × y × y × y × y

5. Express 9a⁴b²c³ in product form.

9a⁴b²c³ = 3 × 3 × a × a × a × a × b × b × c × c × c

● Terms of an Algebraic Expression

Types of Algebraic Expressions

Degree of a Polynomial

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Power of Literal Quantities

Multiplication of Two Monomials

Multiplication of Polynomial by Monomial

Multiplication of two Binomials

Division of Monomials

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