KS4 Mathematics: N2 Powers, Roots and Standard Form

KS4 Mathematics
N2 Powers, roots and

standard form
of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Contents
N2 Powers, roots and standard form
A N2.1 Powers and roots
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.3 Negative indices and reciprocals
A N2.4 Fractional indices
A N2.5 Surds
A N2.6 Standard form

Square numbers
When we multiply a number by itself we say that we are

squaring the number.
To square a number we can write a small 2 after it.
For example, the number 3 multiplied by itself can be

written as
3×3 or 32
The value of three squared is 9.
The result of any whole number multiplied by itself is called

a square number.

Square roots
Finding the square root is the inverse of finding the square:
squared
8 64
square rooted
We write
64 = 8
The square root of 64 is 8.

The product of two square numbers
The product of two square numbers is always another

square number.
For example,
4 × 25 = 100
because
2×2×5×5=2×5×2×5
and
(2 × 5)2 = 102
We can use this fact to help us find the square roots of larger
square numbers.

Using factors to find square roots
If a number has factors that are square numbers then we

can use these factors to find the square root.
For example,
Find 400 Find 225
√400 = √(4 × 100) √225 = √(9 × 25)

= √4 × √100 = √9 × √25
= 2 × 10 =3×5
= 20 = 15

Finding square roots of decimals
We can also find the square root of a number can be made

be dividing two square numbers.
For example,
Find 0.09 Find 0.0144
0.09 = (9 ÷ 100) 0.0144 = (144 ÷ 10000)

= √9 ÷ √100 = √144 ÷ √10000
= 3 ÷ 10 = 12 ÷ 100
= 0.3 = 0.12

Approximate square roots
If a number cannot be written as a product or quotient of two

square numbers then its square root cannot be found exactly.
Use the  key on your calculator to find out 2.
The calculator shows this as 1.414213562

This is an approximation to 9 decimal places.
The number of digits after the decimal point is infinite and
non-repeating.
This is an example of an irrational number.

Estimating square roots
What is 50?
50 is not a square number but lies between 49 and 64.

Therefore,
50 is much
49 < 50 < 64
closer to 49 than
So, to 64, so 50 will
be about 7.1
7 < 50 < 8
Use the  key on you calculator to work out the answer.
50 = 7.07 (to 2 decimal places.)

Negative square roots
5 × 5 = 25 and –5 × –5 = 25
Therefore, the square root of 25 is 5 or –5.
When we use the  symbol we usually mean the positive
square root.
We can also write ± to mean both the positive and the
negative square root.
However the equation,
x2 = 25
has 2 solutions,
x=5 or x = –5
0 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Squares and square roots from a graph

Cubes
The numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, and 125 are all:
Cube numbers
13 = 1 × 1 × 1 = 1 ‘1 cubed’ or ‘1 to the power of 3’

Cube roots
Finding the cube root is the inverse of finding the cube:
cubed
5 125
cube rooted
We write
125
3
=5
The cube root of 125 is 5.

Squares, cubes and roots

Index notation
We use index notation to show repeated multiplication by the

same number.
For example:
we can use index notation to write 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 as
Index or power
25
base
This number is read as ‘two to the power of five’.
25 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 32

Index notation
Evaluate the following:
62 = 6 × 6 = 36
When we raise a
34 = 3 × 3 × 3 × 3 = 81 negative number to
an odd power the
(–5)3 = –5 × –5 × –5 = –125 answer is negative.
27 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 128
When we raise a
(–1)5 = –1 × –1 × –1 × –1 × –1 = –1 negative number to
an even power the
(–4)4 = –4 × –4 × –4 × –4 = 256 answer is positive.

Using a calculator to find powers
We can use the xy key on a calculator to find powers.
For example:
to calculate the value of 74 we key in:
7 xy 4 =
The calculator shows this as 2401.
74 = 7 × 7 × 7 × 7 = 2401

Contents
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.5 Surds

Multiplying numbers in index form
When we multiply two numbers written in index form and with

the same base we can see an interesting result.
For example:
34 × 32 = (3 × 3 × 3 × 3) × (3 × 3)
=3×3×3×3×3×3
= 36 = 3(4 + 2)
73 × 75 = (7 × 7 × 7) × (7 × 7 × 7 × 7 × 7)
=7×7×7×7×7×7×7×7
= 78 = 7(3 + 5)
When we multiply two numbers with the same base the
What do you notice?
indices are added. In general, xm × xn = x(m + n)

Dividing numbers in index form
When we divide two numbers written in index form and with

the same base we can see another interesting result.
For example:
4×4×4×4×4
4 ÷4 =
5 2
= 4 × 4 × 4 = 43 = 4(5 – 2)
4×4
5×5×5×5×5×5
5 ÷5 =
6 4
= 5 × 5 = 52 = 5(6 – 4)
5×5×5×5
When we divide two numbers with the same base the

What do you notice?
indices are subtracted. In general, xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)

Raising a power to a power
Sometimes numbers can be raised to a power and the result

raised to another power.
For example,
(43)2 = 43 × 43
= (4 × 4 × 4) × (4 × 4 × 4)
= 46 = 4(3 × 2)
When a number is raised to a power and then raised to another

What do you notice?
power, the powers are multiplied. In general, (xm)n = xmn

Using index laws

The power of 1
Find the value of the following using your calculator:
61 471 0.91 –51 01
Any number raised to the power of 1 is equal to the

number itself. In general, x1 = x
Because of this we don’t usually write the power when a

number is raised to the power of 1.

The power of 0
Look at the following division:
64 ÷ 64 = 1
Using the second index law,
64 ÷ 64 = 6(4 – 4) = 60
That means that: 60 = 1
Any non-zero number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1.
For example,
100 = 1 3.4520 = 1 723 538 5920 = 1

Index laws
Here is a summery of the index laws you have met so far:
xm × xn = x(m + n)
xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)
(xm)n = xmn
x1 = x
x0 = 1 (for x = 0)
Contents
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.5 Surds

Negative indices
Look at the following division:

3×3 1 1
3 ÷3 =
2 4
= = 2
3×3×3×3 3×3 3
Using the second index law,
32 ÷ 34 = 3(2 – 4) = 3–2
1
That means that 3 = 2
–2
3
1 1 1
Similarly, 6 =
–1
7 = 4
–4
and 5 = 3
–3
6 7 5

Reciprocals
A number raised to the power of –1 gives us the reciprocal

of that number.
The reciprocal of a number is what we multiply the number
by to get 1.
1
The reciprocal of a is
a
a b
The reciprocal of is
b a
We can find reciprocals on a calculator using the x-1 key.

Finding the reciprocals
Find the reciprocals of the following:
1 1
1) 6 The reciprocal of 6 = or 6-1 =
6 6
3 3 7 3 –1 7
2) The reciprocal of = or =
7 7 3 7 3
4 4 5
3) 0.8 0.8 = The reciprocal of = = 1.25
5 5 4
or 0.8–1 = 1.25

Match the reciprocal pairs

Index laws for negative indices
Here is a summery of the index laws for negative indices.
x = 1
–1
The reciprocal of x is
1
x x
x = 1n
–n 1
The reciprocal of x is n
n
x x

Contents
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.5 Surds

Fractional indices
1
Indices can also be fractional. Suppose we have 9 . 2
1 1 1 1
9 ×9 = 9
2 2 2 + 2
= 91 = 9
But, 9 × 9 = 9 Because 3 × 3 = 9
1
In general, x 2 = x
1 1 1 1 1 1
Similarly, 8 ×8 ×8 = 8
3 3 3 3 + 3+ 3 = 81 = 8
Because
But, 8 × 8 × 8 = 8
3 3 3
2×2×2=8
1
In general, x 3 = x
3

Fractional indices
3
What is the value of 25 ? 2
3 1
We can think of 25 as 25
2 2 ×3 .
Using the rule that (xa)b = xab we can write

1
25 2 ×3
= (25)3
= (5)3
= 125
In general,
m
x = (x)
n n m

Evaluate the following
1) 49 12 49 12 = √49 = 7
2
2) 1000 3 1000 23 = (3√1000)2 = 102 = 100
1 1 1 1 1
3) 8 - 3 8- 3 = 1 = 3 =
8 3 √8 2
2 2 1 1 1 1
4) 64 - 3 64 - 3 = 2 = = 2 =
64 3 ( √64)
3 2
4 16
5
5) 4 2 4 52 = (√4)5 = 25 = 32

Index laws for fractional indices
Here is a summery of the index laws for fractional indices.
x = x
1
2
1
x = x
n
n
m
x = x
n
n m
or (x)m
n

Contents
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.5 Surds

Surds
The square roots of many numbers cannot be found exactly.

For example, the value of √3 cannot be written exactly as a
fraction or a decimal.
The value of √3 is an irrational number.
For this reason it is often better to leave the square root sign
in and write the number as √3.
√3 is an example of a surd.
Which one of the following is not a surd?

√2, √6 , √9 or √14
9 is not a surd because it can be written exactly.

Multiplying surds
What is the value of √3 × √3?

We can think of this as squaring the square root of three.
Squaring and square rooting are inverse operations so,
√3 × √3 = 3
In general, √a × √a = a
What is the value of √3 × √3 × √3?
Using the above result, Like algebra, we do

not use the × sign
√3 × √3 × √3 = 3 × √3
when writing surds.
= 3√3
Multiplying surds
Use a calculator to find the value of √2 × √8.
What do you notice?
√2 × √8 = 4 (= √16)
4 is the square root of 16 and 2 × 8 = 16.
Use a calculator to find the value of √3 × √12.
√3 × √12 = 6 (= √36)
6 is the square root of 36 and 3 × 12 = 36.
In general, √a × √b = √ab
Dividing surds
Use a calculator to find the value of √20 ÷ √5.
What do you notice?
√20 ÷ √5 = 2 (= √4)
2 is the square root of 4 and 20 ÷ 5 = 4.
Use a calculator to find the value of √18 ÷ √2.
√18 ÷ √2 = 3 (= √9)
3 is the square root of 9 and 18 ÷ 2 = 9.
a
In general, √a ÷ √b =  b
Simplifying surds
We are often required to simplify surds by writing them in the

form a√b. For example,
Simplify √50 by writing it in the form a√b.
Start by finding the largest square number that divides into 50.
This is 25. We can use this to write:
√50 = √(25 × 2)
= √25 × √2
= 5√2

Simplifying surds
Simplify the following surds by writing

them in the form a√b.
1) √45 2) √24 3) √300
√45 = √(9 × 5) √24 = √(4 × 6) √300 = √(100 × 3)
= √9 × √5 = √4 × √6 = √100 × √3
= 3√5 = 2√6 = 10√3

Simplifying surds

Adding and subtracting surds
Surds can be added or subtracted if the number under the

square root sign is the same. For example,
Simplify √27 + √75.
Start by writing √27 and √75 in their simplest forms.
√27 = √(9 × 3) √75 = √(25 × 3)
= √9 × √3 = √25 × √3
= 3√3 = 5√3
√27 + √75 = 3√3 + 5√3 = 8√3

Perimeter and area problem
The following rectangle has been drawn on a square grid.
Use Pythagoras’ theorem to find the length and width of the

rectangle and hence find its perimeter and area in surd form.
1 6 Width = √(32 + 12)

2√10 = √(9 + 1)
2
3 √10 = √10 units
Length = √(62 + 22)

= √(36 + 4)
= √40
= 2√10 units
Perimeter and area problem
The following rectangle has been drawn on a square grid.
Use Pythagoras’ theorem to find the length and width of the

rectangle and hence find its perimeter and area in surd form.
1 6 Perimeter = √10 + 2√10 +

2√10 √10 + 2√10
2
3 √10 = 6√10 units
Area = √10 × 2√10

= 2 × √10 × √10
= 2 × 10
= 20 units2
Rationalizing the denominator
When a fraction has a surd as a denominator we usually

rewrite it so that the denominator is a rational number.
This is called rationalizing the denominator.
5
Simplify the fraction
√2
Remember, if we multiply the numerator and the denominator

of a fraction by the same number the value of the fraction
remains unchanged.
In this example, we can multiply the numerator and the
denominator by √2 to make the denominator into a whole
number.

When a fraction has a surd as a denominator we usually

rewrite it so that the denominator is a rational number.
This is called rationalizing the denominator.
5
Simplify the fraction
√2
×√2
5 5√2
=
√2 2
×√2

Simplify the following fractions by

rationalizing their denominators.
2 √2 3
1) 2) 3)
√3 √5 4√7
×√3 ×√5 ×√7
2 2√3 √2 √10 3 3√7

= = =
√3 3 √5 5 4√7 28
×√3 ×√5 ×√7

Contents
A N2.2 Index laws
A N2.5 Surds

Powers of ten
Our decimal number system is based on powers of ten.
We can write powers of ten using index notation.
10 = 101
100 = 10 × 10 = 102
1000 = 10 × 10 × 10 = 103
10 000 = 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 104
100 000 = 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 105
1 000 000 = 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 106 …

Negative powers of ten
Any number raised to the power of 0 is 1, so

1 = 100
Decimals can be written using negative powers of ten
1 1
0.1 = 10 = 101 =10-1
1 1
0.01 = 100 = 102 = 10-2
1 1
0.001 = 1000 = 103 = 10-3
1 1
0.0001 = 10000 = 104 = 10-4
1 1
0.00001 = 100000 = 105 = 10-5
1 1
0.000001 = 1000000 = 106 = 10-6 …

Very large numbers
Use you calculator to work out the answer to

40 000 000 × 50 000 000.
Your calculator may display the answer as:
2 ×1015 , 2 E
15
or 2 15
What does the 15 mean?
The 15 means that the answer is 2 followed by 15 zeros or:
2 × 1015 = 2 000 000 000 000 000

Very small numbers
Use you calculator to work out the answer to

0.0002 ÷ 30 000 000.
Your calculator may display the answer as:
1.5 ×10–12 , 1.5 E –12 or 1.5 –12
What does the –12 mean?
The –12 means that the 15 is divided by 1 followed by 12 zeros.
1.5 × 10-12 = 0.000000000002

Standard form
2 × 1015 and 1.5 × 10-12 are examples of a number written in

standard form.
Numbers written in standard form have two parts:
A number
A power of
between 1 × 10
and 10
This way of writing a number is also called standard index

form or scientific notation.
Any number can be written using standard form, however it is
usually used to write very large or very small numbers.

Standard form – writing large numbers
For example, the mass of the planet earth is about

5 970 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 kg.
We can write this in

standard form as a number
between 1 and 10
multiplied by a power of 10.
5.97 × 1024 kg
A number A power of ten

between 1 and 10

How can we write these numbers in standard form?
80 000 000 = 8 × 107
230 000 000 = 2.3 × 108
724 000 = 7.24 × 105
6 003 000 000 = 6.003 × 109
371.45 = 3.7145 × 102

These numbers are written in standard form.

How can they be written as ordinary numbers?
5 × 1010 = 50 000 000 000
7.1 × 106 = 7 100 000
4.208 × 1011 = 420 800 000 000
2.168 × 107 = 21 680 000
6.7645 × 103 = 6764.5

Standard form – writing small numbers
We can write very small numbers using negative powers of

ten.
For example, the width of this shelled amoeba is 0.00013 m.
We write this in standard

form as:
1.3 × 10-4 m.
A number A negative
between 1 and 10 power of 10

How can we write these numbers in standard form?
0.0006 = 6 × 10-4
0.00000072 = 7.2 × 10-7
0.0000502 = 5.02 × 10-5
0.0000000329 = 3.29 × 10-8
0.001008 = 1.008 × 10-3

These numbers are written in standard form.

How can they be written as ordinary numbers?
8 × 10-4 = 0.0008
2.6 × 10-6 = 0.0000026
9.108 × 10-8 = 0.00000009108
7.329 × 10-5 = 0.00007329
8.4542 × 10-2 = 0.084542

Which number is incorrect?

Ordering numbers in standard form
Write these numbers in order from smallest to largest:

5.3 × 10-4, 6.8 × 10-5, 4.7 × 10-3, 1.5 × 10-4.
To order numbers that are written in standard form start by

comparing the powers of 10.
Remember, 10-5 is smaller than 10-4. That means that 6.8 × 10-
5
is the smallest number in the list.
When two or more numbers have the same power of ten we
can compare the number parts. 5.3 × 10-4 is larger than
1.5 × 10-4 so the correct order is:
6.8 × 10-5, 1.5 × 10-4, 5.3 × 10-4, 4.7 × 10-3

Ordering planet sizes

Calculations involving standard form
What is 2 × 105 multiplied by 7.2 × 103 ?
To multiply these numbers together we can multiply the

number parts together and then the powers of ten together.
2 × 105 × 7.2 × 103 = (2 × 7.2) × (105 × 103)
= 14.4 × 108
This answer is not in standard form and must be converted!
14.4 × 108 = 1.44 × 10 × 108

= 1.44 × 109
What is 1.2 × 10-6 divided by 4.8 × 107 ?
To divide these numbers we can divide the number parts and

then divide the powers of ten.
(1.2 × 10-6) ÷ (4.8 × 107) = (1.2 ÷ 4.8) × (10-6 ÷ 107)
= 0.25 × 10-13
This answer is not in standard form and must be converted.
0.25 × 10-13 = 2.5 × 10-1 × 10-13

= 2.5 × 10-14
Travelling to Mars
How long would it take a space ship travelling at an average

speed of 2.6 × 103 km/h to reach Mars 8.32 × 107 km away?

How long would it take a space ship travelling at an average

speed of 2.6 × 103 km/h to reach Mars 8.32 × 107 km away?
distance distance
Rearrange speed = to give time =
time speed
8.32 × 107
Time to reach Mars =
2.6 × 103
= 3.2 × 104 hours
This is This is
8.32 ÷ 2.6 107 ÷ 103

Use your calculator to work out how long

3.2 × 104 hours is in years.
You can enter 3.2 × 104 into your calculator using the EXP key:
3 . 2 EXP 4
Divide by 24 to give the equivalent number of days.
Divide by 365 to give the equivalent number of years.
3.2 × 104 hours is over 3½ years.

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KS4 Mathematics

N2 Powers, roots and

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

N2 Powers, roots and standard form

A N2.1 Powers and roots

A N2.2 Index laws

A N2.3 Negative indices and reciprocals

A N2.4 Fractional indices

A N2.6 Standard form

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

When we multiply a number by itself we say that we are

To square a number we can write a small 2 after it.

For example, the number 3 multiplied by itself can be

The value of three squared is 9.

The result of any whole number multiplied by itself is called

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Finding the square root is the inverse of finding the square:

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The product of two square numbers is always another

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

If a number has factors that are square numbers then we

Find 400 Find 225

√400 = √(4 × 100) √225 = √(9 × 25)

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

We can also find the square root of a number can be made

Find 0.09 Find 0.0144

0.09 = (9 ÷ 100) 0.0144 = (144 ÷ 10000)

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

If a number cannot be written as a product or quotient of two

Use the  key on your calculator to find out 2.

The calculator shows this as 1.414213562

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

50 is not a square number but lies between 49 and 64.

Use the  key on you calculator to work out the answer.

50 = 7.07 (to 2 decimal places.)

of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

0 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

1 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

The numbers 1, 8, 27, 64, and 125 are all:

13 = 1 × 1 × 1 = 1 ‘1 cubed’ or ‘1 to the power of 3’

23 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 ‘2 cubed’ or ‘2 to the power of 3’

33 = 3 × 3 × 3 = 27 ‘3 cubed’ or ‘3 to the power of 3’

43 = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64 ‘4 cubed’ or ‘4 to the power of 3’

53 = 5 × 5 × 5 = 125 ‘5 cubed’ or ‘5 to the power of 3’

2 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Finding the cube root is the inverse of finding the cube:

3 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

4 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

We use index notation to show repeated multiplication by the

we can use index notation to write 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 as

This number is read as ‘two to the power of five’.

5 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

Evaluate the following:

6 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

We can use the xy key on a calculator to find powers.

to calculate the value of 74 we key in:

The calculator shows this as 2401.

7 of 70 © Boardworks Ltd 2005

N2 Powers, roots and standard form

A N2.1 Powers and roots

A N2.2 Index laws

A N2.3 Negative indices and reciprocals

A N2.4 Fractional indices