Laws of Indices

© Christine Crisp
 Laws of Indices

Module C1 Module C2
Edexcel AQA
MEI/OCR
OCR
 Laws of Indices
Multiplying with Indices

e.g.1 23  24  2 2 2  2 2 2 2
 27
 2 3 4

e.g.2 (  1) 2  (  1) 3  (  1 )  (  1 )  (  1)  (  1)  (  1)
 ( 1) 5
 (  1) 2  3
Generalizing this, we get:
a m  a n  a mn
 Laws of Indices
Multiplying with Indices

a m  a n  a mn
If m and n are not integers, a must be positive
1 3
e.g.3 22  2 2
1  3
2 2 2

 22

a m  a n  a m  n       (1 )
(a  0)
 Laws of Indices
Dividing with Indices

1 1
3 3 3 3 3
e.g. 35  32  Cancel
3 3
1 1
3
3
 3 52
Generalizing this, we get:

a m  a n  a m  n       (2)
(a  0)
 Laws of Indices
Powers of Powers
e.g. (3 4 ) 2
 34  34
 38 by rule (1)
4 2
3

a  (a  0a)
m n m  n
      (3)
 Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer

1. 2 3  2 7  210  1024
47
2.  4 2  16
45

3. 2 
3 2  2 6  64
 Laws of Indices
A Special Case
e.g. Simplify 24  24
Using rule (3) 24  24  24 4
 20
2  2  2  2
Also, 24  24 
2  2  2  2
1
 Laws of Indices
A Special Case
e.g. Simplify 24  24
Using rule (2) 24  24  24 4
 20
2  2  2  2
Also, 24  24 
2  2  2  2
1
So, 20 1
Generalizing this, we get:

a 0  1       (4)
 Laws of Indices
Another Special Case
e.g. Simplify 53  57
Using rule (3) 53  57  53 7
 54
1 1 1
5  5  5
Also, 5 3  5 7 
5  5  5  5  5  5  5
1 1 1
1

54
 Laws of Indices
Another Special Case
e.g. Simplify 53  57
Using rule (3) 53  57  53 7
 54
1 1 1
3 7 5  5  5
Also, 5  5 
5  5  5  5  5  5  5
1 1 1
1

54
So, 5 4

1
54
 Laws of Indices
Another Special Case
Generalizing this, we get:

1
an        (5)
n
a

3 1 1
e.g. 1 4  
43 64

1
e.g. 2  23  8
2 3
 Laws of Indices
Rational Numbers

A rational number is one that can be written as

p
q
where p and q are integers and q  0

4  3
e.g. and  3   are rational numbers
7  1 

2 and  are not rational numbers

 Laws of Indices
Rational Numbers
The definition of a rational index is that

 
p
q p
a 
q
a       (6)
1 p is the power
e.g.1 42  4 2 q is the root
2
2
e.g.2 27 3  3
27  32  9
1 1 1 1
e.g.3 16 2  1
 
16 4
16 2
 Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer
0
1. 5 1
1
2. 25 2  25  5

3.
39
7
 32  9
3
 Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer or fraction
4 4
3
4. 83  8  2 4  16
2 1 1
5. 3  
32 9
3 1 1 11
6. 9 2    
3 2 3 3 27
2 9 3
9
Laws of Indices
 Laws of Indices
SUMMARY
The following are the laws of indices:

a m  a n  a mn p
q q p
a  a
am  an  amn
a 1 0

a 
m n
a mn
a a 1

a n 
1 1 1
a

n
a
 Laws of Indices
Examples
0
1. 5 1
1
2. 25 2  25  5

3.
39
7
 32  9
3
 Laws of Indices
4 4
3
4. 83  8  2 4  16
2 1 1
5. 3  
32 9
3 1 1 1 1
6. 9 2    
2
33
3 3 27
9 2 9