6.0 INDICES.

(senior two work)

CONTENT COMMENTS
Objectives: To
• Identify base number and index.
• State and apply the laws of indices in calculations.
• Understand and apply negative and fractional indices.
Key words. Base, index(indices) , powers, simplifying. Squares and cubes.
Square root, Cube root. Root signs.
6.1 Power and base.
Assuming that A is a number, it can be multiplied by itself several times,
for instance, 𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴.
This expression can be written in short (or simplified form) as 𝐴6 .
A is the base and 6 is the power (or index-plural indices).
So, 𝐴6 is read as A raised to the power of six.

Example 1
Express
(a) 25 in multiplication notation.
(b) 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 in index notation( or in power form).Hence
state the base and the index.

(a) 25 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2
(b) 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 × 4 = 47
The base and index are 4 and 7 respectively.

6.2 Common powers.

Squares.
𝐴 × 𝐴 = 𝐴2 is read as A squared. i.e., A is multiplied by itself twice.
Going backwards, A is considered as the square-root of A2.

Cubes.
𝐴 × 𝐴 × 𝐴 = 𝐴3 is read as A cubed. i.e., A is multiplied by itself three times.
Going backwards, A is considered as the cube root of A2.

Example 2.
If 32= 9 and 33=27, write down the value of :

(a) three squared.

(b) three cubed.
(c) the square root of 9.
(d) the cube root of 27.

(a) 32= 9
(b) 33=27
(c) 3

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 (d) 3
6.3 The laws of indices.

Multiplication.
Consider working out 24 × 23 .
24 × 23 = (2 × 2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2)
=2×2×2×2×2×2×2
= 27
Therefore, 24 × 23 = 27
Comparing the powers, how can 7 be obtained from 4 and 3?
Notice that 4 + 3 = 7.

Therefore, 𝐴𝑚 × 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴𝑚+𝑛 …………………….F 6.1( multiplication rule)

Division.
Consider working out 25 ÷ 23 .
25
25 ÷ 23 = 23
2×2×2×2×2
= 2×2×2
=2×2
= 22
Therefore, 25 ÷ 23 = 22
Comparing the powers, how can 2 be obtained from 5 and 3?
Notice that 5 - 3 = 2.

Therefore, 𝐴𝑚 ÷ 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴𝑚−𝑛 ……………………….….F 6.2 (division rule)

Power raised to a power.

Consider working out (23 )2 . (i.e. 23 raised to the power of two ).
(23 )2 = 23 × 23
= (2 × 2 × 2) × (2 × 2 × 2)
=2×2×2×2×2×2
= 26
Therefore, (23 )2 = 26
Comparing the powers, how can 6 be obtained from 2 and 3?
Notice that 3 × 2 = 6.

Therefore, (𝐴𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝐴𝑚𝑛 …………………..F 6.3 ( powers rule)

Example 3.
Simplfy each of the following, giving your answer in index form :

(a) 53 × 54
(b) 23 × 24 × 2
(c) 𝐵3 × 𝐵2
(d) 37 ÷ 33
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 (e) (74 × 7) ÷ 73
(f) (112 )3 × 113 ÷ 11
23 ×28
(g) 27

(a) 53 × 54 = 53+4 = 57
(b) 23 × 24 × 2 = 23+4+1 = 28
(c) 𝐵 3 × 𝐵 2 = 𝐵 3+2 = 𝐵 5
(d) 37 ÷ 33 = 37−3 = 34
(e) (74 × 7) ÷ 73 = 74+1−3 = 72
(f) (112 )3 × 113 ÷ 11 = 112×3 × 113 ÷ 11
= 116 × 113 ÷ 11
= 116+3−1 = 118
23 ×28
(g) = 23+8−7 = 24
27

6.4 Zero index.

Consider working out 25 ÷ 25 .
25
By multiplication, 25 ÷ 25 = 25
2×2×2×2×2
= 2×2×2×2×2
=1

Also, by division rule F 6.2

25 ÷ 25
= 25−5
= 20

Comparing the two answers, notice that 20 = 1

Therefore for any number or expression, A , 𝐴0 = 1. ………….F 6.4

Example 4.
Simplfy each of the following:

(a) 50
(b) 𝑏0
(c) (2𝑥)0
(d) 2𝑥 0
(e) (62 × 6) ÷ 63

(a) 50 = 1
(b) 𝑏 0 = 1
(c) (2𝑥)0 = 1
(d) 2𝑥 0 = 2 × 1 = 2
(e) (62 × 6) ÷ 63 = 62+1−3 = 60 = 1
6.5 A product raised to a power.

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Consider working out (2 × 5)3 . (i.e. (2× 5) raised to the power of three ).
(2 × 5)3 = (2 × 5) × (2 × 5) × (2 × 5)
= (2 × 2 × 2) × (5 × 5 × 5)
= 23 × 53

Notice that (2 × 5)3 = 23 × 53

Therefore, (𝐴 × 𝐵)𝑚 = 𝐴𝑚 × 𝐵 𝑚 ………………………..F 6.5

A quotient(fraction) raised to a power.

2
Consider working out (2 ÷ 5)3 . (i.e. (2÷ 5) 𝑜𝑟 (5) raised to the power of
three ).
2 3 2 2 2
(5) = (5) × (5) × (5)
2×2×2
= 5×5×5
23
= 53

2 3 23
Notice that (5) = 53

𝐴 𝑚 𝐴𝑚
Therefore, (𝐵) = 𝐵𝑚 ……………………………….….F 6.6

Example 5.
Simplfy each of the following:

(a) (𝐴𝐵)2 × 𝐵
(b) (2𝐵)2 × 3
3 2
(c) (2) × 24

(a) (𝐴𝐵)2 × 𝐵
= 𝐴2 × 𝐵 2 × 𝐵
= 𝐴2 × 𝐵 3

(b) (2𝐵)2 × 3
= 22 × 𝐵 2 × 3
= 12𝐵 2

3 2
(c) (2) × 24
32
= 22 × 24 = 32 × 22 = 9 × 4 = 36

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6.6 Negative indices.
Consider working out 22 ÷ 25 .
22
By multiplication, 22 ÷ 25 = 25
2×2
= 2×2×2×2×2
1
= 2×2×2
1
= 23

Also, by division rule F 6.2

22 ÷ 25
= 22−5
= 2−3
1
Comparing the two answers, notice that 23 = 2−3

1
Therefore for any number or expression, A , 𝐴𝑛 = 𝐴−𝑛 . ………….F 6.7

Example 6.
Express the following with positive indices.

(a) 3−2
(b) 𝐴−3
(c) 3𝐴−2
(d) (3𝐴)−2
3 −2
(e) (2)
1 −3
(f) (2)
1
(g) 3−2

1
(a) 3−2 = 32
1
(b) 𝐴−2 = 𝐴2
1 3
(c) 3𝐴−2 = 3 × 𝐴−2 = 3 × =
𝐴2 𝐴2
1
(d) (3𝐴)−2 = (3𝐴)2
3 −2 1 22 4
(e) (2) = 3 2
= 1 × 32 = 9
( )
2
1 −3 1 23 8
(f) ( ) = 1 3
=1× = =8
2 ( ) 13 1
2
1 1 32
(g) = 1 =1× = 32 = 9
3−2 ( 2) 1
3

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6.7 Fractional indices.
1
Consider working out 42 squared.
1 1
This means working out 42 × 42
1 1 1 1
By product rule, 42 × 42 = 42+2
=4
1
Therefore, the square root of 4 is 42 .
1
This is sometimes written as √4 = 42 .
1
Consider working out 83 cubed.
1 1 1
This means working out 83 × 83 × 83
1 1 1 1 1 1
By product rule, 83 × 83 × 83 = 83+3+3
=8
1
Therefore, the cube root of 8 is 83 .
1
3
This is sometimes written as √8 = 83 .
1
𝑛
Therefore, the nth root of A is 𝐴𝑛 = √𝐴. ………………….….F 6.7

Example 7.
Simplify each of the following:
1
(a) 92
1
(b) 83
1
27 3
(c) (125)
2
(d) 273
2
27 3
(e) (64)

1 1 1
(a) 92 = (32 )2 = 32×2 = 3
1 1 1
(b) 83 = (23 )3 = 23×3 = 2
1 1 1
3×
27 3 33 3 33 3
(c) (125) = (53 ) = 1 =5
3×
5 3
2 2 2
3×
(d) 273 = (33 )3 = 3 3 = 32 = 9
2 2 2
3×
27 3 33 3 3 3 32 9
(e) (64) = (4 3 ) = 2 = 42 = 16
3×
4 3

1 𝑚 1 𝑚
𝑛
From F 6.7, it follows that (𝐴 ) = (𝐴𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝐴 𝑛 = √𝐴𝑚 ………..F6.8
𝑛

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Example 8
Express each of the following in index form.

(a) √2
(b) 3√4
(c) 3√52
1
(a) √2 = 22
1
(b) 3√4 = 43
1 2
3
(c) √52 = (52 )3 = 53
Exercise.
1. Without using mathematical tables or a calculator, simplify each of
the following.

(a) 5−2 ÷ 52
(b) 𝑥 3 𝑦 −2 × 𝑥 −1 𝑦 4
1
1
𝑥 −2
(c) (5𝑥 3 )2 × (5 )
3 2
164 ×273
(d) 2×62
3𝑥 ×9𝑥+1
(e) 27𝑥−1

2. Given that 2𝑥 × 3𝑦 = 1296,

(a) Find the value of x and y.

1
(b) Hence, find 12964 .

3. Without using a calculator or mathematical tables, evaluate

(a) √0.000081.
2 −2
27 − 5 2
(b) (8) ∙( 1 )
272

4. Solve:

(a) 7𝑥 = 49
1
(b) 3𝑥 = 243
1 −1
(c) 52𝑥−1 = (125)

1
5. Given that 2𝑥−5 = 16𝑥 , find the value of x.

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