2⁵
Show answer
32
Free printable worksheet
Exponents Worksheet
Twenty problems evaluating powers and applying introductory exponent rules.
Middle School MathGrades 6-83 pagesAnswer key included
No email is required. Download the complete worksheet and answer key now.
Download the free PDF
What this worksheet includes
- Twenty problems evaluating powers and applying introductory exponent rules.
- 3-page printable PDF with a complete answer key
- Designed for Grades 6-8 middle school math practice
- Available as an immediate free download with no email required
How to use it
Use this exponents worksheet for guided practice, independent review, homework, tutoring sessions, or a quick skills check. The spacious layout is designed to leave room for students to show their work rather than guess from crowded answer choices.
After students finish, compare their reasoning with the included answer key. When an answer is incorrect, have the student locate the first step where their work changed direction before trying the problem again.
Who this practice is for
This resource is designed for grades 6-8 students working on middle school math. Teachers, tutors, homeschool families, and parents can preview the first page before deciding whether the level and spacing fit the student.
Looking for a broader sequence? Browse all Middle School Math worksheets.
Topic guide
How to approach exponents
An exponent tells how many times a base is used as a factor. Parentheses determine whether a negative sign belongs to the base: (−3)⁴ differs from −3⁴.
Evaluate powers before other arithmetic and distinguish repeated multiplication from multiplying the base by the exponent.
Learning objectives
- Interpret base and exponent
- Evaluate powers with signed bases
- Use exponents in numerical expressions
Skills to review first
- Multiplication facts
- Order of operations
- Positive and negative numbers
Worked example
Follow the reasoning step by step
Evaluate (−3)⁴.
- The parentheses make −3 the base.
- Write four factors: (−3)(−3)(−3)(−3).
- Pair the negative factors to get positive products.
- Multiply 9 × 9.
Solution: 81.
Try before downloading
Three sample problems
Work each problem, then open the answer to check your result.
−2⁴
Show answer
−16
10³ + 4²
Show answer
1,016
Error check
Common mistakes to watch for
- Multiplying the base by the exponent
- Ignoring parentheses around a negative base
- Multiplying exponents during evaluation