Exponent or Power:
It is a number which indicates the number of times multiplication is to be performed. It is written above the base number on its right side.An exponent can be a positive or negative number.
Example: 23 means we need to multiply 2 for three times i.e. 23 = 2 x 2 x 2. Here, 2 is known as the base number and 3 is known as the exponent.

Powers with Negative Exponents:
For any non-zero integer a, a-m = 1/ am, where m is a positive integer. Also, a-m is known as the multiplicative inverse of am.
Example: 2-2 = 1/(2 x 2) = 1/22.
Here, 2-2 is the multiplicative inverse of 22.


Exponential Laws:
For any non-zero integers a & b, and for any integer’s m & n, we have the following laws of exponents:

(1) am / an = am-n
Example: Solve 24 / 23.
Solution: Using the law of exponent, we can write 24 / 23 = 24-3 = 21 = 2.

(2) (am)n = amn.
Example: Solve (22)3.
Solution: Using the law of exponent, we can write (22)3 = 22x3 = 26 = 64.

(3) am x bm = (ab)m
Example: Solve 22 x 32.
Solution: Using the law of exponent, we can write 22 x 32= (2 x 3)2 = 62 = 36.

(4) am / bm = (a/b)m
Example: Solve 62 / 32.
Solution: Using the law of exponent, we can write 62 / 32= (6/3)2 = 22 =4.

(5) a0 = 1
Example: Solve 60.
Solution: Using the law of exponent, we can write 60 = 1.