Scribd
Upload
486 views

Laws of Indices

Indices or powers indicate how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. Some key rules for indices include: 1. Multiplication: When multiplying powers with the same base, add the indices (e.g. a2 × a3 = a2+3 = a5). 2. Division: When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the indices (e.g. a5 ÷ a2 = a5-2 = a3). 3. A number raised to the power of zero is equal to one (e.g. 100 = 1).

Uploaded by

trnsformer
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
486 views

Laws of Indices

Indices or powers indicate how many times a base number is multiplied by itself. Some key rules for indices include: 1. Multiplication: When multiplying powers with the same base, add the indices (e.g. a2 × a3 = a2+3 = a5). 2. Division: When dividing powers with the same base, subtract the indices (e.g. a5 ÷ a2 = a5-2 = a3). 3. A number raised to the power of zero is equal to one (e.g. 100 = 1).

Uploaded by

trnsformer
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Indices

W. Gray

Name

Indices or Powers
An index is often called a power. It is a number written as a superscript against another number (the base) to indicate how many times the base is being multiplied by itself. So 2 is the same as 2 x 2, i.e. there are two 2s multiplied together. (This often called squared). Likewise 2 is 2 cubed and represents 2 x 2 x 2. Anything can be raised to a power including algebraic variables. E.g. x. An illustration using 3 as the base Index form Qty of 3s to multiply together. 30 0 31 1 2 3 2 3 3 Expanded expression 3 3x3 3x3x3 Resulting value 1 3 9 27

The Laws of Indices


Multiplication

2 x 2 = (2 x 2) x (2 x 2 x 2) = 25
To multiply powers with the same base add the indices.

Law a x a y = a x + y
Division Consider the following:

33 32 =

33 3 3 3 31 = = = 31 2 3 3 3 1

or

(31 is the same as 3 as anything to the power of 1 is the same.)

Law a x a y = a x y
Power raised to a power

(2) = (2) x (2) = (2 x 2 x 2) x (2 x 2 x 2) = 26


i.e. multiply the powers together Law:

( x a )b = x ab
1

130875814.doc

Indices The value of a base with a power of zero

W. Gray

33 33 =

33 3 3 3 1 = = =1 33 3 3 3 1

but using the division rule:

33 33 = 333 = 30
so 30 must be equal 1
1. in fact anything raised to a power of zero is equal to

e.g. x0 = 1, 90 = 1, (3ax)0 = 1
The power of 1

33 3 3 3 3 3 3 = 3 = = =3 3 3 3 1
3 2

but from division of powers

33 32 = 33 2 = 31

so 31 = 3.
This makes sense because the power indicates how many of a particular variable are multiplied together and if the power is one then we only have one of that variable, so anything to the power of 1 is unchanged. This makes the writing of it unnecessary (redundant) and it is usually omitted. However when operating on indices it can often help to clarify the operation if it is included. Negative indices

n2 nn 1 n n = 3 = = n nnn n 2 n n 2 n 3 = 3 = n 23 = n 1 n
2 3

Therefore a negative power is the same as the reciprocal of the base to the positive power.
3 e.g. 2 =

1 23

130875814.doc

Indices

W. Gray

Fractional indices
A square root of a number is that, which when multiplied by itself, equals the number. E.g. the square root of 9 is 3, as 3 multiplied by 3 equals 9. Consider the following:

5 5 = 51

and

5 5 = 5

1 2

1 2

1 1 + 2 2

= 51

This means that the square root of 5 is the same as 5 to the power of a half. This takes into account that when we write this root form is also called Radical Form This applies to any root so for example
3

we really mean: 2

51

5 =5
1

1 3

(cube root)

We do not normally write the power of 1 because anything to the power of 1 is the same and when we do not write the value of the root we mean square root. The power goes on top of the fraction and the root goes on the bottom.

84 = 8

4 3

The power goes on top of the fraction The root goes on the bottom

Remember powers are always written at the top. The root of anything (e.g. a tree) is at the bottom

130875814.doc

Indices

W. Gray

Summary

a x a y = a x+ y
a x a y = a x y
x0 = 1
a

xb = x

b a

1 = x 1 x
3 = 3x 1 x

1 1 1 x 1 = x or = 2x 2 2

3 3 x 2 = 2 4x 4

130875814.doc

Indices Exercises (try to do these without looking at the summary) 1. evaluate the following; a) m4 m5 b) m4 mb c) x 4 x 9 x 2 d) xa xb a2 2. a) b) c)

W. Gray

4. Convert to index form: a) b) c) d) e)


a 7

143 4 3 xb
3

142

x4 / x2 x 4 x 5 x 2 x x9
11

1 x
2 4 2 4

5. convert from index to root form a) b) c)

d) 3. a) b) c) d) e)

x xr

xn

6. evaluate

(x (x (x (x

4 5 2 5 4 2 a b

a) b) c) d)

a0 33 (2) 1 / 25

) )

x 5 x 3

xa xa

Note: be careful when writing powers 5 is not the same as 5

130875814.doc

Indices

W. Gray

Answers 1. a) b) c) d) 2. a) b) c) d) 3. a) b) c) d) e) 4. a) b) c) d) e) 5. a) b) c) 6. a) b) c) d) 1 27 64 0.03125
n

M9 M4+b x11 xa+ba x x x xw-r x20 x-10 x16 xab x2a 143/7 4-3/2 xb/a 144/3 x-2
1 x

x
xm

130875814.doc

You might also like