Fractional Indices

Multiplication Rule am x an = am+n

a0 = 1
Division Rule am  an = am-n
Power Rule (am)n = amn
1
Negative Index Rule a n 
an

Consider the following:

1 1 1
9 x 9  9  9 (multiplication rule)
2 2 1
9  9 3
2

1 1 1 1
8 x 8 x 8  8  8 (multiplication rule)  8  3 8  2
3 3 3 1 3

1 1 1 1 1
16 x 16 x 16 x 16  161  16 (multiplication rule)  16  4 16  2
4 4 4 4 4

Evaluate the following: Write in index form:

So in general: 1 1 1 1 1
16 3
64 4
256
4 27 125 81 32
2 3 3 4 5
1 1 1 1

an  n a 2 3 5 3 2 16 2
64 256
3 4
 Fractional Indices
Multiplication Rule am x an = am+n
Division Rule am  an = am-n a0 = 1
Power Rule (am)n = amn
1
Negative Index Rule a n 
an
Unit Fraction Rule
1
a na
n

Consider the following:

2 1 2
3 2
8  (8 ) (power rule)
3  8  ( 3 8 )2  4
3

3 1 3
4 3
81  (81 ) (power rule)
4
 81  ( 4 81)3  27
4

4 1 4
5 4
32  (32 ) (power rule)  32  ( 5 32) 4  16
5 5

Evaluate the following: Write in index form:

So in general: 2 3 5 2 3 2 7

27 3 16 64 32
4 6 5 625 4
125 3
100 8
m
m
a n
 ( a)
n 9 8 32 4 ( 4 625)3 ( 3 125)2 ( 8 100)7
 Fractional Indices

Multiplication Rule am x an = am+n

a0 = 1
Division Rule am  an = am-n
Power Rule (am)n = amn
1
Negative Index Rule a n 
an
Unit Fraction Rule
1
a na
n

General Fraction Rule

m
a n
 ( n a )m

Evaluate the following:

2 3 1 1 1
2 2    
27 3  ( 27)  3  9
3
81 4
( 4 81)3 33 27


1 1 1 3 1
4    1
641.5  64 3 / 2  ( 64)3  512
2
9 ( 4 ) 2 2 2
  9 3
 Equations Involving Indices

Multiplication Rule am x an = am+n

a0 = 1
Division Rule am  an = am-n
Power Rule (am)n = amn
1
Negative Index Rule a n 
an
Unit Fraction Rule
1
a na
n

General Fraction Rule

m
a n
 ( n a )m

Solve the following:

1
 ( ) x  27 2 5
6 = 36
2x
3 3 x 1
 27 3
2 x 9
 64 6

62x = 62 (3-1)x = 27  3x-1 = 9 2x-9 = 32

2x = 2  3-x = 33  3x-1 = 32  2x-9 = 25
 x=1  -x = 3 x-1=2 x-9=5
 x = -3  x=3  x = 14