Exponents 2: Dividing and Negative Exponents

Understand exponent division — not just the rules.

Help students truly understand dividing with exponents and negative indices, instead of memorising formulas that don’t stick.

This clear, step-by-step mini-lesson builds directly on exponent multiplication and shows why exponents subtract, how cancellation works, and what negative exponents actually mean.

Students are guided through the long way first, so shortcuts make sense later.

This resource includes:

• A guided lesson explaining division with exponents using expansion and cancellation

• Clear explanations of negative exponents and what they represent

• 4 fully worked examples, increasing in difficulty

• A structured summary note linking understanding to exponent rules

• Practice questions for independent application

• Full solutions included at the end of the PDF

All working follows a consistent left-hand side → right-hand side structure to reduce confusion and build algebraic clarity.

Designed for students who:

• struggle with “subtract the exponents” rules

• are confused by negative indices

• benefit from seeing why something works before using shortcuts

• make common mistakes when dividing expressions

Ideal for:

• Middle school & early high school

• IB, GCSE, and general algebra foundations

• Intervention and review

• Homework or classwork

• Small-group instruction

• Tutors and homeschoolers

Approx. completion time: 20–30 minutes

Format: PDF download

Length: 8 pages

Created by: Learning Simply

You will receive 1 PDF file.