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Indices

The document explains the concept of indices, including definitions of index and base, and outlines the laws of indices for operations involving powers. It provides examples for each rule, such as multiplying and dividing expressions with the same base, and introduces fractional indices with examples of roots. Additionally, it includes practice problems for simplification using the laws of indices.

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37 views3 pages

Indices

The document explains the concept of indices, including definitions of index and base, and outlines the laws of indices for operations involving powers. It provides examples for each rule, such as multiplying and dividing expressions with the same base, and introduces fractional indices with examples of roots. Additionally, it includes practice problems for simplification using the laws of indices.

Uploaded by

nyabuti300
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Indices

Index and Base Form


The power to which a number is raised is called index or indices in plural.
25=2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2
5 is called the power or index while 2 two is the base.
100 = 102
2 is called the index and 10 is the base

Laws of Indices
For the laws to hold the base must be the same

Rule 1
Any number, except zero whose index is 0 is always equal to 1
Example
50 = 1
100000000000000000=1

Rule 2
To multiply an expression with the same base, copy the base and add the indices.
am × an = am+n
Example
52 × 53=55
= 3125

Rule 3
To divide an expression with the same base, copy the base and subtract the powers.
am ÷ an = am−n
Example
95 ÷ 92 = 93

Rule 4
To raise an expression to the nth index, copy the base and multiply the indices
(am)n = amn
Example
(53)2 =53×2=56
Rule 5
When dealing with a negative power, you simply change the power to positive by changing it
into a fraction with 1 as the numerator

Work out:
a) 23 x 2-2 =
23-2 = 21
b) (⅔ )-2=
3
( 2 )2
1. Simplify the following:
a) c3x c0=
c3+0 = c3
b) g−2 × g3 ÷ g0=g

c) (p0)3(q2)−1= q-2
-2
[q ]
d) (m3)3(m−2)5= m9 x m-10 = m-1
m-1
2. Simplify the following

a-3+5 = a2
a0 =1
=a2
r-3*-2 = r-6
p-2*3= p-6
r-6

r-6/p-6
Fractional Indices
Fractional indices are written in fraction form. In summary if an = b. a is called the nth root of
b written as n√b.

271/3 =∛27 = 3

161/2 = √16 = 4

16 ¼ = ∜16 =2

163/4 = (∜16)3 = 23 = 8

5. 41/2
4 = 2✔
6. 161/2
16 = 4✔
7. 811/2
81 = 9✔
8. 81/3
3
8 = 2✔

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