Chapter 1 .

Algebraic expressions

June 8, 2020

1.1 Index laws

You can use the laws of indices to simplify powers of the same base.

• am × an = am+n

• am ÷ an = am−n

• amn = amn

• (ab)n = an bn
 a n an
• =
b bn
1
• a−n =
an
• a0 = 1
m
√
• a n = n am

Example 1

Simplify these expressions.

b7
a x2 × x5 b 2r2 × 3r3 c d 6x5 ÷ 3x3 e (a3 )2 × 2a2 f (3x2 )3 ÷ x4
b4
Answer