Each mathematical operation has laws for signed numbers. First one is for addition, if the numbers are both POSITIVE or both NEGATIVE, just add the two numbers together and retain the symbol.
On the other hand, if the signs are different, add or subtract the two numbers and use the sign of the bigger number. In subtraction, if both the numbers are positive, just subtract it like normal (5 - 3 = 2). If one of the numbers is negative, change the subtraction operator and the sign number that follows.
For example, 5 - (-3), it will be changed to 5 + (+3), which will give us the answer of 8. In multiplication, if both signs are positive, the answer will be positive. If one of the signs are negative, the answer will always be negative. Examples are 9 x 3 is equal to 27. On the other hand, 9 x -3 = -27. Lastly, in division, it's similar to multiplication. If one of the sign is negative, the quotient will always be negative.
Otherwise, the quotient will always be positive, as long as the signs are the same. Laws of exponents is similar to laws for signed numbers. If the 2 bases of the exponents are the same, for example, 2^5 x 2^12, just retain the base and then add the two exponents, which would give you the result of 2^17. On the other hand, if its division with similar bases, instead of adding the exponents, you subtract them, like so: 2^12 / 2^5, will give us the result of 2^7.
