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