Dr.

Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

Indices: Let a, x and y be real numbers such that ax= y, then y is called a power of a, x is
called index and a is called base. For example, in 24, 31/2, 5√ 2 indices are 4, ½ and √ 2
respectively whereas bases are 2, 3 and 5.

Laws of Indices: if m and n are integers then

am m – n
(i) am× an = am + n (ii) =a
an

(iii) (am)n = amn (iv) (ab)m = am bm

a m am 1
(v)( ¿ ¿ = m (vi) a0 = 1 (vii) a- n=
b b an

Surds: A surd is an irrational root of a rational number. Thus if a is a surd, then a =√n b;

1 4
where n is called order of a andb is called radical of surd a. For example: √ 2 ,
√
3

4
, √ 5 etc.

Laws of Surds: (i) √n a ×√n b = √n ab

(ii) p . √n a ×q . √n b = p q.√n ab

a
(iii)
√n
√n a ÷√n b = b

(iv) (√n a) m = √n am

Integers (I): Integers are the whole numbers which may be positive, negative or zero.

For example: 3, 4, -2, -5, 0 etc.

Real Number: It comprises a set of all rational and irrational numbers.

p
Rational Number: The number which can be expressed in the form , wherep is any integer
q

5 −3
and q is an integer not equal to zero is called a rational number. For example: ;
7 2

p
Irrational Number: The numbers which cannot be expressed in the form , whereq≠0and p,
q
q both integers, are called irrational numbers. For example: √ 2, 5 √ 2, √3 8 etc.
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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

 Solved Problems

xm +2 n . x 3 m−8 n 81 −54
Example-1: Simplify (i) (ii) ( )
x 5 m−6 n 256

xm +2 n . x 3 m−8 n xm +2 n+3 m−8 n

Solution: (i) =
x 5 m−6 n x 5 m−6 n

x 4 m−6 n
=
x 5 m−6 n

= x 4 m−6 n−(5 m−6 n)

= x 4 m−6 n−5 m +6 n
1
= x−m= [Ans]
xm
5
4.−
81 −54 34 −5 3 4
(ii) ( ) = ( 8)4 = 5
256 2 8.−
2 4

1
35
−5
3
= = 1
2−10
210

1 210
= 5×
3 1

210 1024
= 5 = 243 [Ans]
3

2n +2n−1 3
Example-2: Prove that n =
n+1
2 −2 2

2n +2n−1
Solution: L.H.S =
2n+1−2n

2n+ 2n . 2−1
=
2n .21 −2n

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

2n (1+2−1)
= n 1
2 (2 −1)

1 2+1
1+
= 2 = 2
2−1 1

3
= = R.H.S (Proved)
2

7
5−1 .7 2 2 5−2 .7 3
−5
Example-3: Simplify ( ¿ ¿ × ( 3 −5 ¿ ¿ 2

52 . 7−4 5 .7
7
5−1 .7 2 2 5−2 .7 3
−5
Solution: ( 2 −4 ¿ ¿ × ( 3 −5 ¿ ¿ 2

5 .7 5 .7

7 −5
=(5−1−2 .7 2+4 ¿ ¿ 2 × (5−2−3 . 73+5 ¿ ¿ 2

7 −5
=(5−3 . 76 ¿ ¿ 2 × (5−5 . 78 ¿ ¿ 2

7 7 5 5
=5−3. 2 . 76. 2 ×5−5.− 2 . 78.− 2

−21 25
=5 2 . 721×5 2 . 7−20
−21 25
=5 2
+
2 ×721−20

=52× 7

= 25× 7 = 175 [Ans]

2 n−2 (3 ¿ ¿ n−2.3n −2 )
Example-4: Simplify (2 ¿ ¿ 2 n−3. 2 ). ¿¿
3n−4 (4 n+3−22n )

(3 ¿ ¿ n−2.3n −2 )
Solution: (2 ¿ ¿ 2 n−3. 22 n−2). ¿¿
3n−4 (4 n+3−22n )

2n −2 (3 ¿ ¿ n−2. 3n .3−2)
=(2 ¿ ¿ 2 n−3. 2 .2 ) . ¿¿
3n .3−4 (22.(n+3) −22 n)

22 n ( 1−3.2−2 ) . 3n (1−2. 3−2)

=
3 n . 3−4 (22 n+6 −22 n)

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

=
( 34 ) .3 (1− 29 )
22 n 1− n

1 2n 6 2n
3n . (2 .2 −2 )
34

=
22 n ( 14 ). 3 ( 79 )
n

1 2n 6
3n . . 2 (2 −1)
81

=
( 14 ) .( 79 )
1
.(64−1)
81

7
36 7 81 1
=
1
= ×
36 63
= 4
[Ans]
.63
81

x a a+ b
Example-5: Show that ( b ¿ ¿ × ¿ = 1
x

x a a+b
Solution: L.H.S = ( ) ׿
xb

=( x a−b )a+b ׿

2 2 2 2 2 2
= x a −b × x b −c × x c −a

2 2 2 2 2 2
= x a −b +b −c + c −a

=x0 = 1 [∵ x 0 = 1]

= R.H.S (Proved)

1 1 1
xb bc x c ca x a ab
Example-6: Show that ( c ¿ ¿ ×( a ¿ ¿ ×( b ¿ ¿ = 1
x x x

1 1 1
xb bc x c ca x a ab
Solution: L.H.S = ( ¿ ¿ ×( a ¿ ¿ ×( b ¿ ¿
xc x x

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

1 1 1
= ( x b−c ¿ ¿ bc ×( x c−a ¿ ¿ ca ×( x a−b ¿ ¿ ab

b−c c−a a−b

= x bc
×x ca
×x ab

b−c c−a a −b
= x bc
+
ca
+
ab

a ( b−c ) +b ( c−a ) +c(a−b)

=x abc

ab−ac+bc−ab +ac−bc
=x abc

0
= x abc = x 0= 1 [∵ x 0 = 1]

= R.H.S (Proved)

1 −1
Example-7: If x = 3 3 +3 3 , then show that 3x3 – 9x = 10

1 −1
Solution: Given that, x = 3 3 +3 3

1 −1
Or, x3 = (3 3 +3 3 )3 [taking cube on both sides]

1 −1 1 −1 1 −1
Or, x3 = (3 3 ) 3+(3 3 ) 3 + 3.3 3 .3 3 (3 3 +3 3 )

[∵(a + b) 3 = a3 + b3 + 3ab(a+b)]
1 −1 1 −1
Or, x3 = 3 +3–1 + 3.3 3 .3 3 (3 3 +3 3 )

1 1
1 1 −1
3
Or, x = 3 + + 3.3 . 1 (x)
3 [∵x = 3 3 +3 3 ]
3 33
1
Or, x3 = 3 + + 3x
3
9+1+9 x
Or, x3 =
3
Or, 3x3 = 10 + 9x

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

∴ 3x3 – 9x = 10 (Showed)
1
Example-8: If x = 9 + 4√ 5, then find value of x 2 +
x2

Solution: Given that, x = 9 + 4√ 5

1 1 1 9−4 √ 5
∴ = = ×
x 9+4 √ 5 9+4 √ 5 9−4 √ 5

9−4 √ 5 9−4 √ 5
= 2 =
(9) −¿ ¿ 81 – 16.5

9−4 √ 5
= = 9−4 √ 5
81 – 80
1
Therefore, x + = 9 + 4√ 5 + 9−4 √ 5 = 18
x
1 2
Or, (x + ) = (18)2 [Taking square on both sides]
x

1 1
Or, x2 + 2.x. + 2 = 324
x x

1
Or, x2 + 2+ = 324
x2

1
∴ x2 + = 324 - 2 = 322[Ans]
x2

1
Example-9: If x = 3 + 2√ 2 , then find value of √ x+
√x
Solution: Given that, x = 3 + 2√ 2

1 1 1 3−2 √ 2 3−2 √ 2
∴ = = × =
x 3+2 √ 2 3+2 √ 2 3−2 √ 2 (3)2−¿ ¿

3−2 √ 2 3−2 √ 2
= = = 3−2 √ 2
9 – 4.2 9–8
1
Therefore, x+ =3 + 2√ 2 +3−2 √ 2 = 6
x
1
Or, x + +2=6+2 =8 [Adding ‘2’ on both sides]
x

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 Dr. Rashed Al Karim
Indices & Surds PhD (UUM); MBA (University of Wales,
UK) M.Sc. (CU); B.Sc. (CU)

1 1
Or, (√ x)2+ 2 . √ x. + ( )2 = (2√ 2)2
√x √x
1 2
Or, (√ x+ ) = (2√ 2)2
√x
1
∴ √ x+ = 2√ 2 [Ans]
√x
 Exercises:

9 3 .2 x+1 +2x
1) Simplify (i) 9. ¿ ¿[Ans: ](ii) x+ 2 x−1 [Ans: 2]
14 2 −2
2 n−2 (5 ¿ ¿ n−3.5 n−2)
2) Simplify (3 ¿ ¿ 2 n−5.3 ). ¿ ¿[Ans: 0.34]
5 n−4 (9 n+3−3 2 n)
2m+3 ×32 m−n ×5 m+n +3 × 6n+1
3) Prove that =1
6 m+1 ×10n +3 ×15 m
1
4) If 9 n . 32 . ¿ ¿= ; then prove that m = 1 + n.
27
5) Find out the value of [1 – {1 – (1 – x3) – 1} – 1] – 1/3 when x = 0.10 [Ans: 0.10]
a x x+ y 1
6) Simplify ( ¿ ¿ ׿ 3 ¿ [Ans: ]
ay 3
7) If x = 32/3 + 3-2/3, then show that 9x3 – 27x = 82
8) If x = 2+22/3 + 21/3, then show that x3 = 6x2- 6x +2
1
9) If x = 3 + √ 8, then find value of x 4+ [Ans: 1154]
x4

10) If x =
√ 5+2 , then find value of x 2+ x – 2 [Ans:322]
√ 5−2

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