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Simplifying Indices: A Guide

This document provides examples and explanations of key concepts for simplifying algebraic expressions with indices including: - am × an = am + n - am/an = a(m-n) - (am)n = amn - a0 = 1 - Examples are given for simplifying expressions involving indices along with practice questions and answers.

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Hayiath Qureshi
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178 views3 pages

Simplifying Indices: A Guide

This document provides examples and explanations of key concepts for simplifying algebraic expressions with indices including: - am × an = am + n - am/an = a(m-n) - (am)n = amn - a0 = 1 - Examples are given for simplifying expressions involving indices along with practice questions and answers.

Uploaded by

Hayiath Qureshi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Simplifying indices

A LEVEL LINKS
Scheme of work: 1a. Algebraic expressions – basic algebraic manipulation, indices and surds

Key points
• am × an = am + n
am
• = a m-n
an
• (am)n = amn
• a0 = 1
1
• a n = n a i.e. the nth root of a
m

( a)
m
• a = n am =
n n

1
• a-m =
am
• The square root of a number produces two solutions, e.g. 16 = ±4 .

6 x5
Example 1 Simplify
2 x2

6 x5 am
= 3x3 6 ÷ 2 = 3 and use the rule = a m - n to
2x2 an
x5
give = x5 - 2 = x3
x2

x3 ´ x5
Example 2 Simplify
x4

x 3 ´ x 5 x 3+ 5 x 8
= 4 = 4 1 Use the rule a m ´ a n = a m + n
x4 x x
am
= x8 − 4 = x4 2 Use the rule = a m-n
an

1
Example 3 Write as a single power of x
3x

A2400 ch1f | Version 1.1 | September 2020


1 1 -1 1
= x Use the rule m
= a - m , note that the
3x 3 a
1
fraction remains unchanged
3

4
Example 4 Write as a single power of x
x

4 4 1
= 1 1 Use the rule a n = n a
x x2
1 1
= 4x
-
2 2 Use the rule m
= a-m
a

Practice questions

1 Simplify.
3x 2 ´ x3 10 x5
a b
2 x2 2 x2 ´ x
3x ´ 2 x3 7 x3 y 2
c d Watch out!
2 x3 14 x5 y
1 Remember that
y2 c2
e 1
f 3
any value raised to
y2 ´ y c2 ´ c 2 the power of zero
is 1. This is the
g
( 2x ) 2 3

h
1
x2 ´ x2
3
rule a 0 = 1.
4 x0 x -2 ´ x3

2 Write the following as a single power of x.


1 1 4
a b c x
x x7
5 1 1
d x2 e 3
f
x 3
x2

3 Write the following without negative or fractional powers.


1
a x -3 b x0 c x5
2 1 3
- -
d x 5 e x 2 f x 4

A2400 ch1f | Version 1.1 | September 2020


Answers

3x3
1 a b 5x2
2
y
c 3x d
2x2
1
e y2 f c–3
g 2x6 h x

1
2 a x–1 b x–7 c x4
2 1 2
- -
d x5 e x 3
f x 3

1 5
3 a b 1 c x
x3
5 1 1
d x2 e f
x 4
x3

A2400 ch1f | Version 1.1 | September 2020

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