YOUR NAME:_________________________________________________________

A1 Mathematics –
Surds and Indices

Fully Need more

Topic
Understand help
Sets of Numbers (Page 2)
Surds (Page 3)
• Rules of Surds
• Simplifying
• Adding and Subtracting
• Multiplying
Rationalising the Denominator (Page 5)
Laws of Indices (Page 8)
Solving Equations Involving Indices (Page 14)

Exam Questions Page 18

Exercises to be Completed Marked AND Questions I These

completed ALL Corrected? need to questions now
Questions? complete completed
again and
understood?
Consolidation Exercise 1
Consolidation Exercise 2
Consolidation Exercise 3
Consolidation Exercise 4
Exam Questions

Assessment Preparation: Active Learn Mixed Exercise 1 Pages 15 – 17 Q1, 8-24

 Sets of Numbers

Throughout the course questions will refer to certain types of numbers. You need to know what each of
these are.

The first types of numbers you meet are the NATURAL NUMBERS: ______ = { }.

There are simple equations which can’t be solved using just natural numbers, e. g. x + 5 = 2.
To solve these we need negative integers, so we expand our set of numbers to include all
INTEGER NUMBERS: ______ = { }.

But there are simple equations which can’t be solved using just integers, e. g. 2x – 5 = 0.
To solve these, we need fractions, so we expand our set to include all
RATIONAL NUMBERS: ______ = { }.

But there are still simple equations which can’t be solved using rational numbers, e. g. x2 = 2.
To solve these we need IRRATIONAL NUMBERS (which cannot be written as fractions). Examples
are √2, π & e. We expand the set of rational numbers to include all irrational numbers and now we
have the REAL NUMBERS: ______ = { }.

However, there are still equations which can’t be solved using real numbers (i. e. they have no real
solutions), e. g. x2 = -1 (any real number will square to give a non-negative answer). We therefore
need a final set to include all the COMPLEX NUMBERS, ________. (Note that complex numbers are
only covered in the further maths course).

These sets of numbers contain each other, e.g. the natural numbers are also included in the integers. This is
shown in the diagram below.

Why do I need to know this?

Sometimes in the exam you will be asked to give your answers as one of the above numbers.

E.g. Express your answer in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦 + 𝑐 = 0 where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 ∈ ℤ (where 𝑎, 𝑏, 𝑐 are integers.)
1
Giving 𝑎 as 2 would be therefore wrong as the question asked for an integer.

2
 Surds
Irrational numbers are often infinitely long decimals which may cause problems in some calculations as we
would have to round them off in order to use them. Some of these numbers can be represented as surds
which are useful because they are exact. (Note: Surds are usually taken to be the positive roots.)

Rules of Surds:

Rule 1: Rule 2:

Examples Questions for you

Simplify √2 × √18 = Simplify √5 × √20 =

Simplify √10  √5 = Simplify √26  √2 =

Simplify 3√3 × 2√5 = Simplify 5√7 × 3√11 =

8√18 6√15
Simplify = Simplify =
4√9 3√5

Simplify (3√2)3 = Simplify (2√3)3 =

3
Simplifying Surds
 Find a square number that is a factor of the number in the root. Write that numbers as a product of
its factors.
 Apply surd rules to break up root.
 Simplify where possible.

Examples Questions for you

Simplify √20 = Simplify √75 =

Simplify √72 = Simplify √48 =

Adding/Subtracting Surds
Note that, for example, the surd √2 + √3 cannot be simplified further (they are not ‘like’ terms) where as,
the surd √5 + 3√5 can be simplified as 4√5 (just as 𝑥 + 3𝑥 = 4𝑥). Try to simplify all the surds by making the
numbers in the square roots the same.

Example Question for you

Simplify Simplify
√50 + 5√32 − 4√8 √12 + 3√27 − 2√3

Multiplication of Surds
2
This is like expanding brackets - remember that (√𝑚) = 𝑚.

Examples Questions for you

Simplify the following
√5(√5 + 3) = √3(√3 − 2) =

2 2
(3√2 − 1) = (5√3 + 2) =

(√𝑥 − 2)(√𝑥 + 4) = (√𝑥 − 1)(2√𝑥 + 5) =

4
Homework
• You will likely be set homework every lesson – you should expect up to 4.5 hours per week per
subject.
• The majority will be completing the consolidation exercises that go with each lesson. Full solutions
are available on Sharepoint and you will usually mark this yourself. Your teacher will show you how
to access Sharepoint.

Consolidation Exercise 1 – You must fully justify your working

1) Express the following in the form 𝑘√2

a) √18 b) √50 c) √8 d) √98 e) √200 f) √162

2) Simplify
a) √18 + √50 b) √48 − √27 c) 2√8 + √72
d) √360 − 2√40 e) 2√5 − √45 + 3√20 f) √24 + √150 − 2√96

3) Express the following in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√3

a) √3(2 + √3) b) 4 − √3 − 2(1 − √3) c) (1 + √3)(2 + √3)
d) (4 + √3)(1 + 2√3) e) (3√3 − 4)2 f) (3√3 + 1)(2 − 5√3)

4) Simplify the following

a) (√5 + 1)(2√5 + 3) b) (1 − √2)(4√2 − 3) c) (2√7 + 3)2
d) (3√2 − 1)(2√2 + 5) e) (√5 − √2)(√5 + 2√2) f) (3 − √8)(4 + √2)

5) Write down the square of √𝑎 + 𝑏√𝑐 in the form 𝑝 + 𝑞√𝑟.

√48−√12
6) Show that is an integer and find its value.
√3

7) (𝑎 + √8)2 ≡ 𝑐 + 𝑑√2. Find 𝑐 and 𝑑, expressing them in terms of 𝑎.

Hopefully, you received our Induction booklet, which covers crucial methods – copies are available if you
didn’t.
Make sure you have worked through the booklet – you can use Maths Help (R14) if you have got stuck on
anything. Maths Help is available at all times, and you can always go to the Maths staffroom (R15) to ask for
help.
You will need to hand this in to your teacher during your last maths lesson next week. Please ensure it is
marked AND corrected before handing in (everything can be found on moodle).

TO DO
 Exercise 1 to be completed AND marked by_______________________________
 Read pages 2 – 4 of handbook to be completed by NEXT LESSON

5
 Rationalising the Denominator

It is a convention in mathematics that denominators should be rational. When a surd appears on the
bottom of a fraction we have an irrational denominator, we rationalise the denominator to get rid of the
surd.

Prior Knowledge
5 √2 𝑎+𝑏
 Any number divided by itself equals …………….. e.g.: = = =
5 √2 𝑎+𝑏

 Multiplying an expression by one does not change anything e.g.: (4𝑥 + 2) × 1 = 4𝑥 + 2

3
 We can combine these two ideas to our advantage e.g.: 4 × 3 = 4

𝑘
Type 1 To simplify a surd of the form multiply top & bottom by √𝑎.
√𝑎
Examples Simplify: Questions for you Simplify:

6 15
a) a)
√3 √5

4 9
b) b)
3 √7 2√3

2 3
c) √12 − c) √20 +
√3 √5

6
 √14+√6 √48−√27
d) d)
√2 √3

Difference of Two Squares

(𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2

Using this rule, if we multiply the fractions by the conjugate (change the sign between the terms) of the
denominator we will always end up with a rational number as the denominator. For example
2
(3 + √5)(3 − √5) = 32 − (√5)
=9−5
= 4 which is rational (not a surd!)

𝑘
Type 2 To simplify a surd of the form multiply top & bottom by 𝑎 ∓ √𝑏.
𝑎±√𝑏
Examples Simplify: Questions for you Simplify:

1 1
a) a)
√2−1 √5+2

1+√2 5+√3
b) b)
3+√2 2+√3

7
 26−10√7 4+2√5
c) c)
2−√7 3−√5

Consolidation Exercise 2
1) By rationalising the denominator, express each of the following on its simplest form

1 4 √2 3 2√3
a) b) c) d) 3 e) 7−4
√2+1 √3−1 √2−1 √2+4 √3

6 1+√3 3−√2 √3−5 3√2−2

f) g) 2+ h) 4+3 i) 2 j) 2
√5 − √3 √3 √2 √3−4 √7−5

2) Simplify the following, fully justify your working

6 10 √45−5 1 1 1 √6
a) √8 + b) √48 − c) d) + 32 e) − 72
√2 √3 √20 √18 √ √3 √

10√3 4
3) Show that + 5− 7 can be written in the form 𝑘√7, where 𝑘 is an integer to be found.
√15 √ √

1+√2
4) Simplify (3− . Fully justify your answer.
√2)2

1
5*) Simplify 1. Fully justify your answer.
1+
√2

TO DO
 Exercise 2 to be completed AND marked by_______________________________
 Read pages 5 – 10 of handbook to be completed by NEXT LESSON
 Download Teams App to be completed by _______________________________

8
 Laws of Indices
Consider:

Base Xn Index

Rule 1: 𝑎𝑚 × 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚+𝑛 Rule 2: 𝑎𝑚 ÷ 𝑎𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚−𝑛 Rule 3: (𝑎𝑚 )𝑛 = 𝑎𝑚𝑛

𝑎 𝑛 𝑎𝑛
Rule 4: (𝑎𝑏)𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 𝑏 𝑛 Rule 5: (𝑏) = 𝑏𝑛 Rule 6: 𝑎0 = 1
1
1 𝑛 𝑛
Rule 7: 𝑎 −𝑛 = 𝑎𝑛 Rule 8: 𝑎 𝑛 = √𝑎 Rule 9: √𝑎𝑚

Note that, for example, ab2 means a(b2) = a x b x b;

(ab)2 means a x b x a x b = a2b2.
Questions for you Simplify the following:
2
(10𝑎𝑏 2 )
a) (2𝑎2 )3 = b) 2𝑚3 × 5𝑚2 = c) =
5𝑎𝑏

2 −3
d) 100 = e) 5−2 = f) (3) =

1
g) (−6)−2 = h) 𝑤 3 ÷ 𝑤 −4 = i) 83 =

4
1 3
27 −3
j) 25−2 = k) 164 = l) ( )
8
=

9
 Further Laws of Indices

Rewrite the following in the form 𝒙𝒏

Example Question for you

𝑥 2 ×𝑥 5 𝑥 8 ×𝑥 2
a) = a) =
𝑥3 𝑥

1 1
b) = b) =
𝑥2 𝑥3

3 5 5 2
c) ( √𝑥) = c) ( √𝑥) =

1 1
d) = d) 4 =
√𝑥 √𝑥

3 √𝑥
e) 𝑥 2 × √𝑥 = e) 3 =
√𝑥

𝑥 −7
f) 𝑥 −3 × 𝑥 −10 = f) =
𝑥 −9

10
Rewrite the following in the form 𝒂𝒙𝒏

Example Question for you

1 1
a) 3𝑥 2 × 7𝑥 5 = a) 4𝑥 2 × 3𝑥 3

2
(5𝑥 3 )
b) 𝑥 × 3 (2𝑥 2 )3 = b) =
𝑥9

5 7
c) = c) =
𝑥 𝑥3

5
d) 4√𝑥 = d) 3 =
√𝑥

Be careful with the following: only the variable has a power (not the coefficient.)

1 1
e) 3𝑥 2 = e) 6𝑥 4 =

5 10
f) 3𝑥 = g) 7 =
√𝑥

Rewrite the following in the form 𝒂𝒙𝒏 + 𝒃𝒙𝒎

Example Question for you

3
a) √𝑥(𝑥 + 2) = a) √𝑥(𝑥 2 − 3𝑥) =

b) 𝑥 2 (𝑥 −1 + 𝑥) = b) 𝑥 3 (𝑥 −2 + 6𝑥 2 ) =

11
When you have a fraction with a single term denominator: Split the fraction so each term on
the numerator has its own denominator, then simplify.

5𝑥 4 +2𝑥 9 8𝑥 11 −5𝑥 2
c) = c) =
𝑥2 𝑥7

5 4
𝑥 2 −3𝑥 2 𝑥 5 −3𝑥 2
d) = d) 3 =
√𝑥 √𝑥

1 6 1 5
− 4 − 3
𝑥 3 +( √𝑥) 𝑥 2 +( √𝑥 )
e) = e) =
𝑥2 𝑥2

Exam Questions

(3−4√𝑥)2
1) 𝑓(𝑥) = , 𝑥 > 0.
√𝑥
1 1
Show that 𝑓(𝑥) = 9𝑥 −2 + 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵 where 𝐴 and 𝐵 are constants to be found.

12
2) Work out the volume of a cuboid with dimensions 4𝑝2 𝑞 3 , 3𝑝𝑞 2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 √9𝑝4 𝑞 0

3
𝑦
3) If 𝑥 = 𝑎𝑦 4 and 𝑧 = 𝑏√ , prove that 𝑧 6 = 𝑐𝑥, stating 𝑐 in terms of 𝑎 and 𝑏.
𝑥

Consolidation Exercise 3
1) Expand and simplify the following:
1 1 3 3 7
a) 4𝑥 −2 (3𝑥 5 + 2𝑥 3 ) b) 3𝑥 2 (𝑥 −2 − 𝑥 2 ) c) 𝑥 −2 (5𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2 )
1 5 4 3 1
d) 𝑥 3 (3𝑥 3 − 𝑥 −3 ) e) (𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 −1 )(𝑥 − 𝑥 −2 ) f) (𝑥 2 − 𝑥 2 ) (𝑥 − 𝑥 2 )

2) Simplify the following:

3 3 1
𝑥 2 −3𝑥 𝑦 2 (𝑦 3 −6) 𝑝+𝑝2 8𝑤−2𝑤 2
a) 1 b) c) 3 d) 1
3𝑦 −
𝑥2 𝑝4 4𝑤 2
3
2𝑥 3 −𝑥 2
3) Given that can be written in the form 2𝑥 𝑝 − 𝑥 𝑞 , write down the value of 𝑝 and the value of 𝑞.
√𝑥

4) What term multiplies with 4𝑐 2 𝑑3, 5𝑑𝑒 2 and 3𝑐 2 𝑒 3 to give 360?

3
5) Explain why the area of a rectangle of sides √8𝑚−3 𝑛6 and √16𝑚2 𝑛−4 is independent of 𝑚 and 𝑛.
1 1
6) a) Work out the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with perpendicular sides length 5𝑛2 and 12𝑛2 .
b) Work out the area of the right-angled triangle described in (a).

TO DO
 Exercise 3 to be completed AND marked by______________________________

13
 Solving Equations Involving Indices
TYPE A: Equations with an unknown base i.e. 𝒙𝒏 = 𝒌

Example 1
Solve the following equations
1
a) 𝑥 2 = 49 b) 𝑥 2 = −9 c) 𝑥 −2 = 9 d) 𝑥 4 = 2

1 2
e) 𝑥 −3 = 5 f) 𝑥 3 = 25 g) 4𝑥 2 = 36 h) 3𝑥 3 + 1 = −23

Example
Solve the following equations
1
a) 9 − 4𝑥 −2 = 0 b) 1 − 3𝑥 −2 = 0 c) 2𝑥 − 16𝑥 −2 = 0

14
TYPE B: Equations with an unknown index i.e. 𝒂𝒙 = 𝒌

Prior Knowledge: re-writing the base.

Example 1 Rewrite the following in the form 2𝑛

1 2 −
5
a) 48 = b) ( ) = c) 8 3 = d) 23 × 44 × 85 =
2

Questions for you Rewrite the following in the form 2𝑛

1 −2 1 −3 1 5
a) 82 = b) ( ) = c) ( ) = d) 43 × 326 =
4 32

Example 2 Rewrite the following as powers of a smaller number

3
a) 9 =
2 b) 25−3 =

Example 3 Express the following in the form 2𝑦 where 𝑦 is a function of 𝑥.

1 𝑥+3
a) 162𝑥 = b) (4) =

Question for you

𝑥
1 𝑥 1 𝑥+2
a) 9𝑥 = b) 81𝑥+1 = c) 274 = d) ( ) = e) ( ) =
3 27

15
Example 4 Solve the following equations (hint: both sides of the equation need to have the same base)

a) 33𝑥−2 = 81 b) 25𝑥−2 = 8𝑥

Question for you

Given that 3𝑥 = 9𝑦−1 , show that 𝑥 = 2𝑦 − 2

Example 5 (2019 Exam Question)

1
Given 2𝑥 × 4𝑦 = 2√2 express 𝑦 as a function of 𝑥.

Question for you

Given that 6𝑦+1 = 36𝑥−2 ,
a) Express 𝑦 in the form 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏
1
b) Find the value of 4𝑥−2𝑦

16
Consolidation Exercise 4
1) Solve the following equations
1 1
𝑥 −2
a) 3 − 2𝑥 −2 = 0 b) 2
−2=0 c) 𝑥 − 16𝑥 −3 = 0 d) 4𝑥 − 12𝑥 −2 = 0
1
𝑥 −2
Challenge: e) 2 − 4𝑥 −2 = 0

2) Find the value of 𝑥 such that

a) 2𝑥 = 64 b) 5𝑥−1 = 125 c) 3𝑥+4 − 27 = 0 d) 8𝑥 − 2 = 0

3) Solve the following equations

a) 2𝑥+3 = 4𝑥 b) 53𝑥 = 25𝑥+1 c) 92𝑥 = 3𝑥−3 d) 16𝑥 = 41−𝑥
e) 4𝑥+2 = 8𝑥 f) 272𝑥 = 93−𝑥 g) 63𝑥−1 = 36𝑥+2 h) 8𝑥 = 162𝑥−1

4) Given that 𝑥 = 2𝑡−1 and 𝑦 = 23𝑡 , find expressions in terms of 𝑡 for

i) 𝑥𝑦 ii) 2𝑦 2

8𝑥 1
5) Find the value of 𝑥 for which =
√8 64

6) The curve 𝑦 = 27 − 3𝑥 intersects the 𝑦-axis at the point A and the 𝑥-axis at the point B.
i) Find the 𝑦 coordinate of point A.
ii) Verify that the 𝑥 coordinate of point B is 3.

TO DO
 Exercise 4 to be completed AND marked by______________________________

17
 Exam Questions
1) Express each of the following in the form 𝑎𝑛 :
𝑎 6 ×𝑎 7 1 4
a) 𝑎8
b) 𝑎7 c) (√a)5 ; d) √𝑎 × 𝑎3 [1, 1, 1, 2]

2) Express each of the following in the form 𝑥 𝑚 + 𝑥 𝑛 :

𝑥 5 +1
a) 𝑥3
b) √𝑥(𝑥 + 1) [2, 2]

9
3) Solve the equation 3𝑥 = √3, justifying your answer. [3]

4) Express the following surds in the form 𝑘√3, where 𝑘 is an integer, justifying your answers:
12
a) 6√3 − √12 + √48 b) 3 [3, 2]
√

5) Express the following surds in the form 𝑎 + 𝑏√𝑐, where 𝑎, 𝑏 and 𝑐 are integers, justifying your
answers:
16+9√3
a) (3√3 + √2)(√3 − √2) b) 2+√3
[3, 3]

6) Solve the equation

𝑥√2 − √18 = 𝑥
Writing the answer as a surd in its simplest form. [3]

7) Solve the equation

1
43𝑥−2 =
2√2
[3]
8) Simplify these expressions
5𝑚+1
i) 2𝑚 × 2𝑛 ii) 52𝑛
iii) (3𝑚 )2 × √(3𝑚 ) [1,1,3]

16𝑝 ×8𝑞
9) Given 4 𝑝+𝑞
= 2𝑛 , write down an expression for 𝑛 in terms of 𝑝 and 𝑞. [3]

10) A rectangle ABCD has an area of 8 cm2 and length (3 − √5) cm.
Work out its width, giving your answer as a surd in simplified form. Show your working. [3]

18