Lesson 15

Evaluating Expressions with Exponents

Let’s find the values of expressions with exponents.

15.1: Revisiting the Cube

Based on the given information, what other measurements of the square and cube could we find?

15.2: Calculating Surface Area

A cube has side length 10 inches. Jada says the surface area of the cube is 600 in2, and Noah says the surface area of the cube is 3,600 in2. Here is how each of them reasoned:

Jada’s Method:

\(6 \boldcdot 10^2\)
\(6 \boldcdot 100\)
\(600\)

Noah’s Method:

\(6 \boldcdot 10^2\)
\(60^2\)
\(3,\!600\)

Do you agree with either of them? Explain your reasoning.

15.3: Row Game: Expression Explosion

Evaluate the expressions in one of the columns. Your partner will work on the other column. Check with your partner after you finish each row. Your answers in each row should be the same. If your answers aren’t the same, work together to find the error.

column A column B
\(5^2+4\) \(2^2+25\)
\(2^4 \boldcdot 5\) \(2^3 \boldcdot 10\)
\(3 \boldcdot 4^2\) \(12 \boldcdot 2^2\)
\(20+2^3\) \(1+3^3\)
\(9 \boldcdot 2^1\) \(3 \boldcdot 6^1\)
\(\frac19 \boldcdot \left( \frac12 \right)^3\) \(\frac18 \boldcdot \left( \frac13 \right)^2\)

 



  1. Consider this equation: \(\boxed{\phantom{3}}^2+\boxed{\phantom{3}}^2=\boxed{\phantom{3}}^2\). An example of 3 different whole numbers that could go in the boxes are 3, 4, and 5, since \(\displaystyle 3^2+4^2=5^2\). (That is, \(9+16=25\).)

    Can you find a different set of 3 whole numbers that make the equation true?

  2. How many sets of 3 different whole numbers can you find?
  3. Can you find a set of 3 different whole numbers that make this equation true? \(\boxed{\phantom{3}}^3+\boxed{\phantom{3}}^3=\boxed{\phantom{3}}^3\)
  4. How about this one? \(\boxed{\phantom{3}}^4+\boxed{\phantom{3}}^4=\boxed{\phantom{3}}^4\)

Once you have worked on this a little while, you can understand a problem that is famous in the history of math. (Alas, this space is too small to contain it.) If you are interested, consider doing some further research on Fermat’s Last Theorem.

Summary

Exponents give us a new way to describe operations with numbers, so we need to understand how exponents get along with the other operations we know.

When we write \(6 \boldcdot 4^2\), we want to make sure everyone agrees about how to evaluate this. Otherwise some people might multiply first and others compute the exponent first, and different people would get different values for the same expression!

Earlier we saw situations in which \(6 \boldcdot 4^2\) represented the surface area of a cube with side lengths 4 units. When computing the surface area, we evaluate \(4^2\) first (or find the area of one face of the cube first) and then multiply the result by 6. In many other expressions that use exponents, the part with an exponent is intended to be evaluated first.

To make everyone agree about the value of expressions like \(6 \boldcdot 4^2\), the convention is to evaluate the part of the expression with the exponent first. Here are a couple of examples:

\( \begin {align} 6 &\boldcdot 4^2 \\ 6 &\boldcdot 16 \\ &96 \end {align}\)

\( \begin {align} 45 &+ 5^2 \\ 45 &+ 25 \\ &70 \end {align}\)

If we want to communicate that 6 and 4 should be multiplied first and then squared, then we can use parentheses to group parts together:

\( \begin {align} (6 &\boldcdot 4)^2 \\ &24^2 \\ &576 \end {align}\)

\( \begin {align} (45 &+ 5)^2 \\ &50^2 \\ 2,&500 \end {align}\)

Glossary Entries

  • cubed

    We use the word cubed to mean “to the third power.” This is because a cube with side length \(s\) has a volume of \(s \boldcdot s \boldcdot s\), or \(s^3\).

  • exponent

    In expressions like \(5^3\) and \(8^2\), the 3 and the 2 are called exponents. They tell you how many factors to multiply. For example, \(5^3\) = \(5 \boldcdot 5 \boldcdot 5\), and \(8^2 = 8 \boldcdot 8\).

  • squared

    We use the word squared to mean “to the second power.” This is because a square with side length \(s\) has an area of \(s \boldcdot s\), or \(s^2\).