Name: ______________________________( ) Class: ______ Date: ___________

NAN HUA HIGH SCHOOL

Secondary 2 Mathematics
Laws of Indices

In Textbook 1A, we learnt to represent 5  5  5  5  5 as 54 (read as ‘5 to the power of 4’).

The digit 5 is called the base, and the digit 4 in 54 is called the index (or the exponent).
54 is called the index notation of 5  5  5  5  5 .

index
base 54

Investigation 1
Complete the following.

1. Q2.
7 2 73  (7  7)  (7   ) 6 4 65  (6  )  (6  )

 7  7  ...  7  6  6  ...  6

 7( )
 6( )

 (
72 )
64  ( )

Q3.
2 105 275  ( ) ( )

times times

 2  2  ...  2

times

2 ( )

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Q4 Q5
a 3a 4  (a  a  a )  ( ) a m a n  ( ) ( )

 a  a  ...  a times times

a ( )
 a  a  ...  a

 (
a3 )
times

a ( )

In general, if a is a real number, and m and n are positive integers, then

Law 1 of Indices: am  an 

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Investigation 2

Without using calculator, represent in as simple expression as possible the amount of

the allowance the father is offering.

In general, if a is a real number, and m and n are positive integers such that m > n, then

am
Law 2 of Indices: am  an  
an

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Investigation 3

“Dad, can you give me an allowance in the scheme of

$(21)2 on the first day, $(22)3 on the second day,
$(23)4 on the third day and so on?”
I promise not to get allowance from you for the rest of
the year after 5 days.

Son, you are so kind!

Do you mean I can give you the allowance in the scheme of
$(23) on the first day, $(25) on the second day,
$(27) on the third day and so on
which will give you the same amount each day?

(a) Both schemes continue for 5 days. Without using a calculator, work out
the amount of allowance that the son will get on the 5th day for each scheme,
leaving your answer in index form.

(b) Do you agree with what the father claim? Justify your answer.

If a is a real number, and m and n are positive integers, then

Law 3 of Indices: (a m ) n 

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Investigation 4

1. Complete the following:

(a) 23 × 73 = (2 × 2 × 2) × ( × × )
= (2 × 7) × ( × )×( × )
=( × )3

(b) (−3)2 × (−4)2 = (−3) × (−3) × ( )×( )

= [(3) × (4)] × [( )×( )]

= [(3) × ( )]

2. Now generalise for the following:

𝑎𝑛 × 𝑏 𝑛 = (𝑎 × 𝑎 × … × 𝑎) × (𝑏 × 𝑏 × … × 𝑏)
n times times
= (𝑎 × 𝑏) × (𝑎 × 𝑏) × … × (𝑎 × 𝑏)

times

= (𝑎 × 𝑏)

In general, if a and b are ________ numbers, and n is a __________, then

Law 4 of Indices: a n  bn 

Another useful version of this law can be written as

( a  b) n 

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Investigation 5

1. Complete the following:

83
(a) 83 ÷ 53 = 53
8 × 8× 8
=
× ×

8 8 8
= × ×

8
=( )
5

(b)
(−12)4
(−12)4 ÷ (−7)4 = (−7)4

( )×( )×( )×( )

=
( )×( )×( )×( )

(−12) (−12) (−12) (−12)

= × × ×
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )

(−12)
=[ ]
( )

3. Consider 𝑎𝑛 ÷ bn , where b ≠ 0,
n times
In general, if a and b are ________ numbers, and
𝑎×𝑎×…×𝑎
𝑎𝑛 ÷ 𝑏 𝑛 = ( )×( )× … ×( )
n is an __________, then

n times
Law 5 of Indices:
𝑎 𝑎 𝑎
= × × …×
( ) ( ) ( )

times

Another useful version of this law can be written

=( ) as

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8
9
Exercise A

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Investigation 6
Zero Index

Recall: Law 2 of Indices

If a is a real number, and m and n are positive integers
such that m > n, then a m  a n  a mn , if a  0 .

What happens if m = n?

If we use Law 2 of Indices, we have

53  53  __________ = 50

But 50 has not been defined.

What would a good definition of 50 be?

We know that a ÷ a = 1 for a ≠ 0

53  53  1

Hence, a good definition of 50 would be 50 = 1.

Similarly, if the base is a, we have

a4 ÷ a4 = a4  4 = a0 (by Law 2)

But a0 has not been defined.

We know that a4 ÷ a4 = 1.

Then, what would be a good definition for a0 ?

Therefore, for Law 2 to apply for m = n, we define a0 as follows:

Definition 1:
a0  if a 

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Negative Index

Recall: Law 2 of Indices

If a is a real number, and m and n are positive integers
such that m ≥ n, then a m  a n  a mn , if a  0 .

What happens if m < n?

If we use Law 2 of Indices, we have

73 ÷ 75 = 73  5 = 72

But 72 has not been defined.

What would a good definition of 72 be?

7×7×7 1
We know, 73 ÷ 75 = =
7×7×7×7×7 72

1
Hence a good definition of 72 would be
72

Using the same approach, can you find a nice definition for a  n ?

For Law 2 to apply for m < n, we define a  n as follows:

Definition 2:
an  if a 

Extension of Laws of Indices

From previous lessons, the laws of indices (Laws 1 to 3) apply when the indices are positive
integers. Now with these two definitions (Definition 1 and Definition 2), the laws can be
extended to include all integral indices.

Think about it…

For Definitions 1 and 2, why can’t the base be zero (that is, why can’t we have a = 0)?

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 GET IT? GOT IT!

Activity : THINK-PAIR-SHARE

There are two ways of simplifying (𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )4 × (3𝑥 2 𝑦)4 ,

Explain these two ways using the laws of indices.

1st way: 2nd way:

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Activity : SPOT THE MISCONCEPTIONS!
3
2𝑥 2
Jim and Joan were asked to simplify ( ) .
𝑦
3
2𝑥 2 2𝑥 6
Jim wrote this: ( ) =
𝑦 𝑦3
3
2𝑥 2 8𝑥 5
Joan wrote this: ( ) =
𝑦 𝑦

Both Jim and Joan obtained the wrong solutions.

(i) Highlight the possible misconceptions that Jim and Joan might have.

(ii) Provide the correct solution.

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Activity : CLASS DISCUSSION

𝑎 𝑛 𝑎𝑛
We have learnt that (𝑎 × 𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 × 𝑏 𝑛 and ( ) = .
𝑏 𝑏𝑛
Is it true that (𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 + 𝑏 𝑛 ?
How about (𝑎 − 𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 − 𝑏 𝑛 ?
Provide some counter-examples if necessary.

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Exercise B

Summary

18
Answers

19
Exercise A Exercise B

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