Negative exponents and the laws of exponents
Grade 8 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
Ari's robot screen shows 2^-3, with its strip written out below. What is the value of 2^-3?
Bo's puzzle card shows 3^-2, with its strip written out below. What is the value of 3^-2?
A fraction bar. On top: 1. Below: 3 × 3 (that is 3^2). A fraction bar. On top: 1. Below: 3 × 3 (that is 3^2). 1 3 3 3^2 Esme's padlock tag shows 4^-2, with its strip written out below. What is the value of 4^-2?
A fraction bar. On top: 1. Below: 4 × 4 (that is 4^2). A fraction bar. On top: 1. Below: 4 × 4 (that is 4^2). On top 1 Below 4 × 4 (that is 4^2) Jun's worksheet shows 7^-2. What is its value?
Luz's worksheet shows 3^-3. What is its value?
Noah's robot screen shows 6^-4 × 6^9 = 6^?, with the strips drawn. What is the missing exponent?
A fraction bar. The 6^-4 puts 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 below the bar. On top: nine 6s (6^9). A fraction bar. The 6^-4 puts 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 below the bar. On top: nine 6s (6^9). 6^-4 × 6^9 = 6^? 6^9 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6^-4 6 6 6 6 The 6^-4 puts 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 below the bar. On top: nine 6s (6^9). Pia's puzzle card shows 2^5 × 2^-8 = 2^?, with the strips drawn. What is the missing exponent?
A fraction bar. On top: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 (2^5). The 2^-8 puts eight 2s below the bar. A fraction bar. On top: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 (2^5). The 2^-8 puts eight 2s below the bar. A fraction bar 2^5 2 2 2 2 2 2^-8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 On top: 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 (2^5). The 2^-8 puts eight 2s below the bar. Ren's math book shows 4^2 ÷ 4^5 = 4^?, with the strips drawn. What is the missing exponent?
A fraction bar. On top: 4 × 4 (4^2). Below: 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 (4^5). A fraction bar. On top: 4 × 4 (4^2). Below: 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 (4^5). 4^2 4 4 4^5 4 4 4 4 4 Tala's worksheet shows 6^3 ÷ 6^7 = 6^?, with the strips drawn. What is the missing exponent?
A fraction bar. On top: 6 × 6 × 6 (6^3). Below: 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 (6^7). A fraction bar. On top: 6 × 6 × 6 (6^3). Below: 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 (6^7). On top 6 × 6 × 6 (6^3) Below 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 × 6 (6^7) Zee's padlock tag shows 9^1 ÷ 9^3 = 9^?, with the strips drawn. What is the missing exponent?
A fraction bar. On top: 9 (9^1). Below: 9 × 9 × 9 (9^3). A fraction bar. On top: 9 (9^1). Below: 9 × 9 × 9 (9^3). 9 (9^1) 9 9 9 (9^3)