GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Negative Indices - Worksheet

Skill
Group A - algebraic and numerical terms
Rewrite these in ordinary form. Simplify / evaluate where possible:
−2 −1 −𝑝
1) 𝑎 2) 𝑧 3) 5

−𝑡 −𝑥 −𝑟
4) 3 5) 𝑧 6) 𝑞

2 −2
7) 2
−4
8) 7
−2
9) ( )
5

3 −3 3 −2 1 −1
10) ( ) 8
11) ( ) 𝑥
12) ( ) 𝑥

Group B - algebraic terms with a coefficient

Rewrite these expressions in ordinary form. Simplify / evaluate where possible:
−2 −6 −7
1) 5𝑎 2) 9𝑦 3) 12𝑥

−3 −4 −2
4) (2𝑥) 5) (4𝑥) 6) (3𝑐)

−2 −3 −3
7)
1
2
𝑥 8)
3
4
𝑥 9) ( )
1
3
𝑦

2 −3
( )
−2
10) ( 𝑝) 2
5
11) (5𝑥 )
2 −3
12)
1
5
𝑓

Group C - fractional negative indices

Rewrite these expressions in ordinary form. Simplify / evaluate where possible:
1 1 3
−2 −3 −4
1) 𝑥 2) 𝑚 3) 𝑓
1 2 1
−2 −3 −2
4) 25 5) 64 6) 2𝑎
1 1 1
−5 −3 −2
7) 4𝑘 8) (8𝑡) 9) (16ℎ)
3 4
25 − 2 8 −3
2

10) (64𝑏)
−3
11) ( ) 36
12) ( ) 125

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Negative Indices - Worksheet

Group D - writing in index form

Rewrite these expressions in index form:
1 1 1
1) 2 2) 3)
𝑚 𝑓 7

1 1 1
4) 𝑥 5) 2 6) 3
3 (3𝑥) (4𝑥)

5 8 1
7) 2 8) 5 9)
𝑎 9𝑦 𝑏

7 1 1
10) 4
11) 3 12)
𝑡 ( 𝑚) 7 7

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GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Negative Indices - Worksheet

Applied

−2 −3
1) a) Work out: 5 +2

−3 −2
b) Work out: 3 × 10

2) a) Arrange the following values in ascending order:

1 −2 −5 3
, 8 , 2 ,
60 120

b) Arrange the following values is descending order:

1
1 −2 −2 8
, 9 , 144 ,
100 140

3) Sandra answered the questions below for her maths homework.

Write down one mistake for each answer.

Evaluate the following: Evaluate the following:

−2 1
−2
7 16
=− 49 1
=
8

4) If 𝑥 = 3 and 𝑦 = − 2, work out 𝑥

−2 𝑦
+5 +4 .
−𝑦

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 GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Negative Indices - Exam Questions

−2
1) (a) Evaluate 7

….……………
(2)
1
−3
(b) Evaluate 8

….……………
(3)
(5 marks)

3 −2
2) (a) Evaluate ( )
7

….……………
(3)
1
36 − 2
(b) Evaluate ( )
81

….……………
(3)
(6 marks)

1
−2 −2
3) (a) Work out 9 + 12

….……………
(3)

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GCSE Maths Revision | Algebra

Negative Indices - Exam Questions

1
−2 2 −3
(b) Work out 5 × (27 )

….……………
(4)
(7 marks)

𝑥 1
4) (a) Find the value of 𝑥 such that 2 =
4

….……………
(2)

𝑦 1
(b) Find the value of 𝑦 such that 5 =
125

….……………
(2)
(4 marks)

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