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How to add exponents with the same base and different power?

Published in Exponents Operations 2 mins read

To add expressions with exponents that share the same base but have different powers, you can't directly add the exponents. Instead, you must evaluate each term separately and then add the results.

Steps to Follow:

  1. Check the bases and exponents: According to the provided references, the first step is to check that the terms you are trying to add have the same base but different exponents.

  2. Evaluate each term: Calculate the value of each exponential term individually. This means calculating the base raised to its respective power.

  3. Add the results: Sum the values you obtained in the previous step. This gives you the final answer.

Examples:

Here's a breakdown with examples:

Example 1:

Calculate 22 + 23

Step Description Calculation
1 Bases are the same (2), exponents are different (2 and 3). N/A
2 Calculate 22 22 = 4
3 Calculate 23 23 = 8
4 Add the results 4 + 8 = 12
Answer 12

Example 2:

Calculate 31 + 32 + 30

Step Description Calculation
1 Bases are the same (3), exponents are different (1, 2, and 0). N/A
2 Calculate 31 31 = 3
3 Calculate 32 32 = 9
4 Calculate 30 30 = 1
5 Add the results 3 + 9 + 1 = 13
Answer 13

Important Note: You cannot simplify expressions like 22 + 23 to 25. The rule am an = am+n applies to multiplication*, not addition.

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