3/23/22, 3:38 PM Index Notation

Indices
 

1.1  Index Notation

 
Index notation is written as an , which a is the base and n is the index or exponent.

 
  Example  
    
3
2 =2×2×2
   
23  (2 to the power of 3) is written in index notation which is the base is 2 and 3 is the index or exponent.

 
Repeated multiplication method:
 
23 = 2 × 2 × 2

The value of index is 3.

The value of index is the same as the number of times 2 is multiplied repeatedly.

 
  Example  
     
4
  (i)   5 =5×5×5×5  
         
3
  (ii)   0.3 = 0.3 × 0.3 × 0.3  
 
Repeated division method:
 
A number can be written in index form if a suitable base is used.

 
  Example  
     
Write 32 in index form using base of 2.
   

     
The base is 2​​.

So, 32 is divided repeatedly by 2.

The division is continued until 1 is obtained.

32 ÷ 2 = 16
16 ÷ 2 = 8
   
8÷2=4
4÷2=2
2 ÷ 2 = 1.

Thus, 32 = 25 .

1.2  Law of Indices

 
Multiplication:
 
In general, am × an = am+n .

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3/23/22, 3:38 PM Index Notation

  Example  
     
3 2 3+2
(i)   2 ×2 =2
   
5
=2 .
         
3 3 5 2
(ii)    2 × 6 × 2 × 6

= 23 × 25 × 63 × 62
   
3+5 3+2
=2 ×6

= 28 × 65 .
 
Division:
 
In general, am ÷ an = am−n .

 
  Example  
         
4 2 4−2
(i)   5 ÷5 =5
   
2
=5 .
         
5 3 2
(ii)    20k y ÷ 5k y

20 5−2 3−1
  = k y  
5
​

= 4k 3 y 2 .
 
Power:
 
In general, (am )n = amn .

 
  Example  
     
5 3 5(3)
(8 ) = 8
   
15
=8 .
 
Using law of indices to perform operations of multiplication and division:
 
(am × bn )q = (am )q × (bn )q

= amq × bnq

= amq bnq

 
(am ÷ bn )q = (am )q ÷ (bn )q

= amq ÷ bnq

amq
= nq
b
​

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3/23/22, 3:38 PM Index Notation

  Example  
         
2
(i)   3 4
3 4(2)
( ) =
56 56(2)
​ ​

   
38
= .
512
​

         
4 5 3
(ii)    (3m n )

  = (33 )m4(3) n5(3)  

= 27m12 n15
 
Zero index:
 
A number or an algebraic term with a zero index will give a value of 1.
In general, a0 = 1 ; a =
 0. ​

 
  Example  
     
0
  (i)   k =1  
         
0
  (ii)   12 = 1  
 
Negative index:
 
A number or an algebraic term that has an index of a negative value.
1
In general, a−n = ; a
= 0.
an
​ ​

 
  Example  
     
  (i)   1  
m−4 = 4 ​

m
         
  (ii)   1  
4−2 = 2
4
​

         
  (iii)   1  
a−6 =
a6
​

         
  (iv)   2  
2a−3 =
a3
​

         
  (v)   1  
3
= 4−3
4
​

 
Fractional index:
 
1
In general,  n a = an ; a 
​ = 0. ​

 
  Example  
     
1
  (i)   5
25 = 25 ​
5 ​

 
         
1
  (ii)   50 = 5 ​
5
50 ​
 
 
m 1 1
a n = (am ) n = (a n )m
​ ​ ​

 
m m
an = ​
n
am = ( n a )
​ ​

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3/23/22, 3:38 PM Index Notation

  Example  
     
3 1
  (i)   3  
81 = (81 )
2 ​

2 ​

1
= (81 2 )3 . ​

         
5
  (ii)    
6
4 096 = 6 ​

4 0965 ​

= ( 4 096)5 .
6
​

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