The key rules are: product rule aᵐ · aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ, quotient rule aᵐ/aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ, power of a power (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ, zero exponent a⁰ = 1 (a ≠ 0), and negative exponent a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ.
A fractional exponent aᵐ/ⁿ means the n-th root of a raised to the m-th power: aᵐ/ⁿ = (ⁿ√a)ᵐ. For example, 8^(2/3) = (∛8)² = 2² = 4.
By the quotient rule: aᵐ/aᵐ = aᵐ⁻ᵐ = a⁰. But aᵐ/aᵐ = 1 for any non-zero value. Therefore a⁰ = 1. The expression 0⁰ is indeterminate and its value depends on context.