INDICES 1

index or power

7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 75
base
Multiplying: 3 2  35  (3  3)  (3  3  3  3  3)  3 7

RULE 1 am × an = am + n

333333
Dividing: 36  32   34
33

RULE 2 am ÷ an = am − n

Raising to a power: (42 )3  (4  4)  (4  4)  (4  4)  4 6

RULE 3 (am)n = am × n
Examples

1 Simplify a y4 × y5 b x7 ÷ x4 c (p3)4

a y 4  y 5  y 45  y 9 add the powers

b x 7  x 4  x 74  x 3 subtract the powers

c (p3 )4  p34  p12 multiply the powers

Examples

2 Simplify a 2p 2q5  5p 4q3 b 6a5b7

2a 2b3

a 2p 2q5  5p 4q3  2  5  p2  p4  q5  q3
 10  p24  q53
 10p 6q8
b 6a5b7 6
  (a5  a 2 )  (b7  b3 )
2a 2b3 2

 3  a52  b73
 3a3b4
 33 1
Negative powers: 32  34   2
3333 3

and 3 2  3 4  3 24  3 2
1
so 32  2
3
RULE 4 1
am 
am

3333
Zero powers: 34  34   1
3333

and 3 4  3 4  3 44  3 0

so 30  1

RULE 5 a0 = 1
Examples
2
 
1 Work out the values of a 2−3 b 70 c (−2)−3 d 3
 4 

1 1 1
a 23   
23 222 8
b 70  1

1 1 1
c (2)3    
(2)3 (2)  (2)  (2) 8

2 2
 3  4 4 4 16
d        
 4  3 3 3 9
Examples

2 Simplify a y4 × y−7 b 3x−5 × 2x4 c y4 ÷ y−7 d (p−3)4

a y 4  y 7  y 47  y 47  y 3 add the powers

b 3x 5  2x 4  3  2  x 5  x 4  6  x 54  6x 1

c y 4  y 7  y 47  y 11 subtract the powers

d (p 3 )4  p 34  p 12 multiply the powers