Exploring Negative Indices

Questions

To make the notation more concise, there is another way to write 1

= 7−3
index expressions involving fractions. 73

1) Rewrite the following index expressions with negative indices.

a) b) c) d)
1 1 1 1
52 36 712 138

2) Evaluate the values of the following index expressions by first transforming them into a fraction.
The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c) d)
= 2−3 = 3−3 = 8−2 = 2−6
1
= 3
2
1
=
8

We can rewrite any expression on the bottom of a fraction as a 34 × 45 1

term with a negative index. 3
= 34 × 45 × 3
7 7

In this way, we can write complicated expressions tidily. 34 × 45

(We can also remove the ‘×’ symbol, as this is implied) = 34 45 7−3
73

3) Rewrite the expressions below without a denominator.

a) b) c) d)
6 7 7 9 3 4 3
2 ×5 9 ×4 3 ×4 ×3 25 × 56 × 2
33 211 38 57 × 55

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.
Exploring Negative Indices

4) A student knows that

1
2−3 = ,
23
and that
22 × 23 = 22+3 = 25 .

He has used this knowledge to simplify the expressions below. Complete the rest of the questions, using the same
logic as this student.

a) b) c) d)
= 5−6 × 5−3 = 4−7 × 4−2 = 11−11 × 11−10 = 3−5 × (2 × 3−8 )
1 1
= 6
× 3
5 5
1
= 6
5 × 53
1
= 6+3
5
1
= 9
5
= 5−9

Do you notice a pattern in Question 3?

Negative indices follow the same rules as do positive indices. = 5−6 × 5−3
− −
= 5 6+ 3
Simply add the indices together! =5
−9

(Note that we didn’t just assume this was true. We tested it first.)

5) Without converting to fractions, simplify the following expressions.

a) b) c) d) e)
5−5 × 5−4 3−6 × 3−3 8−10 × 8−1 7−8 × 7−3 × 7−5 5−6 × 53 × 5−2

6) Show that the equations below are correct. The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c) d)
= (4−5 )3 =4 −5×3 = (3−4 )2 =3 −4×2
= (2−8 )3 =2 −8×3
= (7−10 )4 = 7−10×4

(4−5 )3 = 4−5 × 4−5 × 4−5

− − −
= 4 5+ 5+ 5
= 4−5× 3

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.
Exploring Negative Indices

7) Show that the equations below are correct. The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c)
= (4−3 )−2 = 46 = (6−5 )−3 = 615 = (12−6 )−6 = 1236

1
(4−3 )−2 =
(4−3 )2
1
= −3
4 × 4−3
1
= −6
4
= 4−(−6)
= 46

d) e) f)
= (45 )−3 =4 −15
= (1310 )−5 = 13 −50 (73 )−11 = 7−33

8) Without expanding terms, simplify the following expressions.

a) b) c) d) e) f)
(3−3 )4 (7−6 )5 (125 )−5 (8−9 )−3 (1712 )−4 (5−5 )−1

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.
Exploring Negative Indices

Answers

To make the notation more concise, there is another way to write 1

= 7−3
index expressions involving fractions. 73

1) Rewrite the following index expressions with negative indices.

a) b) c) d)
1 1 1 1
= 5−2 = 3−6 = 7−12 = 13−8
52 36 712 138

2) Evaluate the values of the following index expressions by first transforming them into a fraction.
The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c) d)
= 2−3 = 3−3 = 8−2 = 2−6
1 1 1 1
= 3 = 3 = 2 = 6
2 3 8 2
1 1 1 1
= = = =
8 27 64 64

We can rewrite any expression on the bottom of a fraction as a 34 × 45 1

term with a negative index. 3
= 34 × 45 × 3
7 7

In this way, we can write complicated expressions tidily. 34 × 45

(We can also remove the ‘×’ symbol, as this is implied) = 34 45 7−3
73

3) Rewrite the expressions below without a denominator.

a) b) c) d)
26 × 57 97 × 49 33 × 44 × 33 25 × 56 × 2
= = = =
33 211 38 57 × 55
1 1 36 × 44 26 × 56
= 26 × 57 × = 97 × 49 × = =
33 211 38 512
= 26 57 3−3 = 97 49 2−11 36 56
= × 44 = 26 ×
38 512
1 1
= 2 × 44 = 26 × 6
3 5
= 3−2 44 = 26 5−6

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.
Exploring Negative Indices

4) A student knows that

1
2−3 = ,
23
and that
22 × 23 = 22+3 = 25 .

He has used this knowledge to simplify the expressions below. Complete the rest of the questions, using the same
logic as this student.

a) b) c) d)
= 5−6 × 5−3 = 4−7 × 4−2 = 11−11 × 11−10 = 3−5 × (2 × 3−8 )
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
= 6
× 3 = 7
× 2 = 11
× 10 = 5
×2× 8
5 5 4 4 11 11 3 3
1 1 1 1
= 6 = 7 = 11 = 5 ×2
5 × 53 4 × 42 11 × 1110 3 × 38
1 1 1 1
= 6+3 = 7+2 = 21 = 13 × 2
5 4 11 3
1 1 = 11−21 = 3−13 21
= 9 = 9
5 4
= 5−9 = 4−9

Do you notice a pattern in Question 3?

Negative indices follow the same rules as do positive indices. = 5−6 × 5−3
− −
= 5 6+ 3
Simply add the indices together! =5
−9

(Note that we didn’t just assume this was true. We tested it first.

5) Without converting to fractions, simplify the following expressions.

a) b) c) d) e)
= 5−5 × 5−4 = 3−6 × 3−3 = 8−10 × 8−1 = 7−8 × 7−3 × 7−5 = 5−6 × 53 × 5−2
= 5−9 = 3−9 = 8−11 = 7−16 = 5−5

6) Show that the equations below are correct. The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c)
= (4−5 )3 = 4−5×3 = (3−4 )2 = 3−4×2 = (2−8 )3 = 2−8×3

(4−5 )3 = 4−5 × 4−5 × 4−5 (3−4 )2 = 3−4 × 3−4 (2−8 )3 = 2−8 × 2−8 × 2−8
−5+ −5+ −5 − − − − −
=4 = 3 4+ 4 = 2 8+ 8+ 8
−4×2 −8×3
= 4−5× 3 =3 =2
d)
= (7−10 )4 = 7−10×4

(7−10 )4 = 7−10 × 7−10 × 7−10 × 7−10

− − − −
= 7 10+ 10+ 10+ 10
−10×4
=7

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.
Exploring Negative Indices

7) Show that the equations below are correct. The first one has been done for you.

a) b) c)
= (4−3 )−2 = 46 = (6−5 )−3 = 615 = (12−6 )−6 = 1236

1 1 1
(4−3 )−2 = (6−5 )−3 = (12−6 )−6 =
(4−3 )2 (6−5 )3 (12−6 )6
1 1 1
= −3 = =
4 × 4−3 6−5 × 6−5 × 6−5 12−6 × 12−6 × 12−6 × 12−6 × 12−6 × 12−6
1 1 1
= −6 = = −36
4 6−15 12
= 4−(−6) = 6−(−15) = 12−(−36)
= 46 = 615 = 1236
d) e) f)
= (45 )−3 =4 −15
= (1310 )−5 = 13 −50 (73 )−11 = 7−33

1 1 1
(45 )−3 = (1310 )−5 = (73 )−11 =
(45 )3 (1310 )5 (73 )11
1 1 1
= 5×3 = 10×5 =
4 13 73×11
1 1 1
= 15 = 50 =
4 13 733
= 4−15 = 13−50 = 7−33

8) Without expanding terms, simplify the following expressions.

a) b) c) d) e) f)
= (3−3 )4 = (7−6 )5 = (125 )−5 = (8−9 )−3 = (1712 )−4 = (5−5 )−1
= 3−3×4 = 7−6×5 = 125×−5 = 8−9×−3 = 1712×−4 = 5−5×−1
= 3−12 = 7−30 = 12−25 = 827 = 17−48 = 55

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use ACMNA209

permitted.