Grade 6 - Exponents and Order of Operations

Squares, Cubes,
and Radicals
Perfect Squares
• Squares = n2, a number that is produced by multiplying an integer by
itself(or, squaring it).
To illustrate, let us first list a few integers:

-5, -4, -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Next, we multiply each by themselves (e.g. 3x3 = 9)
25, 16, 9, 4, 1, 0, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25
• We can see that there are no negative perfect squares in the list.
Squares of Large Numbers
• With a number like 213444, you cannot tell whether it is a perfect
square on the first glance...so you have to go through a process
called prime factorization.
• Prime factorization - find the prime factors of the number.

•
Fundamental theorem of arithmetic - any positive integer greater
than 1 can be written as a product of primes
•
To start, see which prime numbers can divide your number. (Begin
with low primes, such as 2, 3, 5)
Prime Factorization
E.g. you see the 213444 is even, so it can
be divided by 2; its digit sum is divisible
by 3, so 213444 is divisible by 3.
Since all the prime factors of 213444

appear an
even number of times, 213444 is a
perfect square.
213444 = 2*2*3*3*7*7*11*11
= 22*32*72*112
Square Root
• Square root is the reverse function or operation of a square.
• To factor a square root, you first need to simplify the number

inside if possible then see if there is any perfect square that is
that number’s factor and square root that factor and bring it out.
The square root of 9 (or a number that equals 9 when multiplied by
itself) is 3 because 3x3=9
This can also be notated as such: √9 = 3
It is implied that all perfect squares have an integer as its
square root, so for the numbers that aren’t perfect squares
(such as 8, 13, 17, and any other numbers), we have to
estimate to give an approximation.
How would estimation work?

A Short Way Estimate √8
1.Find the perfect square below and above the number
22(4) < √8 < 32(9)
2.Subtract the perfect square below the number from your number
8-4=4
3.Divide the difference by (perfect square immediately above your
number - perfect square immediately below your number)
4/(9-4) = ⅘ = 0.8
Add the quotient to the square root of the perfect square below your
number
2 + 0.8 = 2.8
Pure Estimation! Estimate √8 to the hundredths
1.Find the perfect square below and above the number
22(4) < √8 < 32(9)
2.Repeat the steps!
2.82(7.84) < √8 < 2.92(8.41)
2.822(7.9524)< √8 < 2.832(8.0089)
2.8282(7.997584)< √8 < 2.8292(8.003241)
√8 ≈ 2.83
Cubes and Cube Roots
• Cubes = n3, a number that is produced by multiplying an integer by
itself three times.
Example: 23 = 8; 53 = 125
• Cube root is the reverse operation of a cube.

Example: 3√125 = 5
• To factor a cube root, you first need to simplify the number inside if
possible then see if there is any perfect cube that is that number’s
factor and cube root that factor and bring it out .
Exponents
• If you define multiplication as a simplified version of addition,
then exponents are simplified versions of multiplication.
• Notations: ab or a^b
2*4=2+2+2+2=8 2 adds itself by 4 times

24 =2*2*2*2=16 2 multiplies itself by 4 times
**You will learn more of exponents and its applications in higher

grades.
‘0’ in Exponents
0n: In this case, the product will always be 0, as
0*0*0*0*...=0
n0: This is a little more complex, but the product will always be 1.
1 = n/n = n1/n1
n1/n1 = n1-1 = n0*
∴ 1 = n0
This proof involves some understanding of basic exponent laws, we
can discuss it briefly later.
Negative numbers in Exponents
(-2)2= (-2) * (-2) = +4 (-2)2= (-2) * (-2) = +4
(-2)3= (-2) * (-2) * (-2)= -8 -22= - (2 * 2)= -4
(-2)4= (-2) * (-2) * (-2) * (-2)= +16 (-a)b = b affects sign change
-ab = b does not affect sign
(-a)b change
b = even, answer is positive
b = odd, answer is negative
Radicals
• A radical, or root, is the mathematical
opposite of an exponent, in the same sense
that addition is the opposite of subtraction.
• The smallest radical is the square root,

represented with the symbol √.The index
number is 2.
• The next radical is the cube root, represented

by the symbol ³√. The index number is 3.
**You will learn to solve problems with higher radicals in the upcoming grades. For this class we will
only solve square roots and cube roots
Rules for simplifying Radicals
• To multiply or divide two radicals, the radicals must have the same
index number.
• The product rule dictates that the multiplication of two radicals

simply multiplies the values within and places the answer within the
same type of radical, simplifying if possible.
E.g: ³√2 * ³√4 = ³√8 = 2
• The quotient rule states that one radical divided by another is the
same as dividing the numbers and placing them under the same
radical symbol.
E.g: √4 ÷ √8 = √4/8 = √1/2
Addition and Subtraction
Addition Subtraction
• √8 + √6 = √8 + √6 • √8 - √6 = √8 - √6
• √8 + √8 = 2√8 • 3√8 - √8 = 2√8
• √(8 + 6) = √14 • √(8 - 6) = √2
• √8 + √18 = 2√2 + 3√2 = 5√2 • √32 + √18 = 4√2 + 3√2 = √2
• 2 + √8 = 2 + √8 • 2 - √8 = 2 - √8
**Numbers in the square roots DO NOT MIX WITH EACH OTHER

FOR ADDITION & SUBTRACTION.
Order of
Operations
Review of Exponents
Order of Operations
• Order of Operations is the basis of all mathematical calculations. It
serves as an agreement for everyone on how to calculate the answer
for every equation. Without Order of Operations, the calculation
sequence can be quite varied, and the final answers may not be all
the same.
• BEDMAS is the abbreviation of:
Brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition, and
subtraction.
• It is a term to remind ourselves how the order of operations goes.
Order of Operations
Brackets: ( ) First operation
to begin with
Exponents: ab
! Multiplication Division
x or * ÷ or /
! Addition(+) Subtraction(-)
Last operation
to begin with
!: The operations on the same level have equal importance;
calculation will be conducted from left to right
Examples
1. 17+5*6 2. 56÷(14-6) 3. 3*12÷(2+8-1)
= 17 + 30 = 56÷8 = 3*12÷(9)
=7 = 36÷(9)
= 47
=4

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Squares, Cubes,

To illustrate, let us first list a few integers:

• Prime factorization - find the prime factors of the number.

Since all the prime factors of 213444

• To factor a square root, you first need to simplify the number

How would estimation work?

• Cube root is the reverse operation of a cube.

2*4=2+2+2+2=8 2 adds itself by 4 times

**You will learn more of exponents and its applications in higher

(-2)3= (-2) * (-2) * (-2)= -8 -22= - (2 * 2)= -4

• The smallest radical is the square root,

• The next radical is the cube root, represented

• The product rule dictates that the multiplication of two radicals

**Numbers in the square roots DO NOT MIX WITH EACH OTHER

1. 17+56 2. 56÷(14-6) 3. 312÷(2+8-1)

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