Today, we're exploring exponents, a powerful tool for expressing large numbers. For example, instead of writing the mass of the Earth as 5,970,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 kg, we can write it as 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg. Can anyone tell me why this is beneficial?

Exactly! By using exponents, we can quickly understand the magnitude of the number. Now, let's look at how we represent smaller numbers using negative exponents.

Good question! Negative exponents indicate division. For example, 10⁻² means 1 divided by 10 squared, or 0.01. Let’s practice converting 10⁻³.

Correct! The pattern holds—each decrease in exponent decreases the value by a factor of ten. Let’s summarize: exponents allow us to express both very large and very small numbers efficiently.

Now, let's dive into negative exponents a bit deeper. When we see expressions like 2⁻², what does that represent?

Exactly! 2⁻² = 1/(2²), which equals 1/4. It’s essential to remember that negative means we move into the denominator. Let’s calculate a few examples: what is 3⁻¹?

Great! Remember, as you apply these concepts, try to state what each exponent signifies—this understanding is key to mastering the topic.

Now, let's shift gears and discuss how we can express numbers in expanded form using exponents. For example, how do we write the number 1425 using exponents?

Exactly! Excellent work. Now, let’s apply this to a decimal number: how do we express 1425.36?

Perfect! That’s understanding the expanded form. Always remember, when you see a decimal, those negative exponents indicate the decimal placement.

To wrap up, we learned that exponents allow us to handle large and small numbers efficiently. Who can recap what negative exponents do?

Exactly! And what about expressing numbers in expanded form? How is that useful?

Fantastic! Remember these concepts as we move forward into the laws of exponents and their applications.