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How to Get Exponents From the Product

An exponent is simply notation that indicates a number must be multiplied by itself a certain number of times. Exponents are often represented by a superscript number above and to the right of the base number -- or through the use of the caret symbol. For example, 4^5 represents the number 4 being raised to the fifth power, where 5 is the exponent. The rules governing exponents include the "Product Rule," which holds that the multiplication of two powers with the same base yields an exponent that is equal to the sum of those two powers.

Instructions

- 1
  Simplify the equation by isolating the bases of the same value. For example, if you have the expression y^4 + (x^7 * x^3) * z^3, eliminate the variables that do not have "x" as a base. This can be done by actually factoring out these variables from an equation or simply ignoring the other variables.
- 2
  Identify the exponents of all of the relevant bases. For example, in the equation given in the previous step, the two relevant values are x^7 and x^3. The exponents of these bases are 7 and 3.
- 3
  Add the exponents together. Using the same equation, simply add the exponents 7 and 3 to get 10. This is the new exponent that can be written above a single value for "x." Therefore, x^7 * x^3 = x^10.

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