Foundation Mathematics

Topic 1 – Lecture 1: Introduction to Algebra

Powers and Indices

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic Quantities

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.2

Scope and Coverage

This topic will cover:
• Simplification of a range of algebraic expressions
including those involving powers

• Simplifying a range of algebraic expressions by

multiplying and dividing expressions

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.3

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this topic students will be able to:
• Be able to perform a range of algebraic calculations
through
- Simplifying a range of algebraic expressions involving
powers
- Simplifying algebraic expressions by multiplying and
dividing expressions

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.4

Terminology
• Terminology will be explained in the lecture, seminar
and tutorial

• Ask questions if there is anything that you don’t

understand

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.5

Laws of Indices
• In mathematics it is common to try and simplify
expressions. In algebra we use letters to donate
mathematic quantities
- E.g. a, x, y, z.
• When we want to add, subtract, divide or multiply the
mathematic quantities we simplify the way we write
algebraic expressions
• For example when multiplying identical algebraic
quantities such as a×a×a×a. We may write this as a4

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.6

Laws of Indices – Multiplication 1

• If we then have the expression a4×a3 this is the same as
(a×a×a×a)×(a×a×a)
which in turn is = a×a×a×a×a×a×a=a7
• Notice that a4×a3=a4+3=a7; we have added the two
indices together in order to obtain the power of a in the
result.
• In general, am×an=am+n and the law is when multiplying
powers of the same number together add the indices.

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.7

Laws of Indices – Multiplication 2

Examples:

• 52×53 = 52+3 = 55

• x6×x7 = x6+7 = x13

• y2×y3×y4×y5 = y2+3+4+5 = y14

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.8

Laws of Indices – Division 1

• So as the multiplication of powers involves the addition
of indices, division involves subtraction
• Consider the following example

a5
aaaaa
  a 3

a 2
aa

5
a 5 2
• Notice that 2
a a 3

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.9

Laws of Indices – Division 2

• We have subtracted the index of the denominator from
the index of the numerator, to obtain the power of a in
the result.
• The general formula to achieve this is:

m
a mn
n
a
a

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.10

Laws of Indices – Division 3

• When dividing power of the same number subtract the
index of the denominator from the index of the
numerators.
5
• Examples x 5 2
2
x x 3

x
3 4 8
a  a a
3 4
a8
a 15
15 12
 5  7  12  a a 3

a a
5 7
a a

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.11

Laws of Indices – Powers 1

Powers
• Consider the expression (a3)2 ; this is the same as writing
a3×a3 which is = a3+3 =a6
• Also(a3)2 is the same as =a3×2 which is also =a6
• Therefore we have multiplied the indices together.
• The general rule for this is

(am)n = amn

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.12

Laws of Indices – Powers 2

• When raising the power of a number to a power,
multiply the indices together.
• Examples
(54)3= 54×3 = 512

(3a)3= 31×3×a1×3 = 33a3 = 27a3

(a2b3c4)2=a 2×2 b 3×2 c 4×2 = a4b6c8

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.13

Laws of Indices - Negatives

• Negative Indices
a3 aaa 1 1
  
a5 a  a  a  a  a a  a a 2

• Applying the law of division therefore gives:

a3 35 1
5
a  2
a a
1  1
• Therefore a  2  2or in general terms a  m
m

a a

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.14

Laws of Indices – Negatives 2

• Examples of negative indices.
1
1
a 
a
2 3 1 1 1
(8 x )  2 3
 3 6 
(8 x ) 8 x 512 x 6

1  3 1
3
 (a )  a 3

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.15

Laws of Indices – Fractions 1

/
• If we encounter a 3

• We need to consider how this may be expressed, given

that 3
a 3 a 3 a  a
/ / /
• and that a a a 3  a
3 3

/
3
a 3
Is the same as a

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.16

Laws of Indices – Fractions 2

2
• It also follows therefore that a can also be
3

represented as 3
a2
n
• In general terms we can consider a  m n
am

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.17

Zero Index
• Any non zero number raised to the power zero = 1

an nn
 a  a 0

an
n
a
n
1  a0  1
a

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.18

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities
• For multiplying and dividing in algebra there some
straightforward rules. These are best illustrated by
examples:
( x)( y )  ( xy )   xy  xy

5 x  3 y  5  3  x  y  15 xy
(4 x)(2 y )  (4 x)(2 y )  8 xy
 3x 3x  5x 5x 5x
  
2y 2y  6y 6y 6y

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.19

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities - Multiplying
• When multiplying expressions containing the same
symbols, indices are used
m  m  m2
3m  5m  3  m  5  m  15m 2
(  m)  m 2  (  m)  m  m   m 3

5m 2 n  3mn3  5  m  m  n  3  m  n  n  n  13m3n 4

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.20

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities – Cancelling Out
• When dividing algebraic expressions, cancellation is often
possible. Cancelling is equivalent to dividing both numerator
and denominator by the same quantity:
pq p  q
 q
p p 3 p 2q 3  p  p  q 3 p p
  
7 pq 6  p  q  q 6q 2q
2

18 x 2 y 2 z 18  x  x  y  y  z
  3xy
6 xyz 6 x y  z

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.21

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities – Brackets 1
• Brackets are used for convenience in grouping terms
together. When removing brackets each term within the
bracket is multiplied by the quantity outside the bracket:
3( x  y )  3 x  3 y
5(2 x  3 y )  5  2 x  5  3 y  10 x  15 y
4(a  2b)  4  a  4  2b  4a  8b
m(a  b)  ma  mb
3 x(2 p  3q )  3 x  2 p  3 x  3q  6 px  9qx

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.22

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities – Minus Sign
• When a bracket has a minus sign in front of it, the signs of all
the terms inside the bracket are changed when the bracket is
removed. The reason for this rule may be seen from the
following examples:
 3(2 x  5 y )  (3)  2 x  (3)  (5 y )  6 x  15 y
 ( m  n)   m  n
 ( p  q)   p  q

 2( p  3q )  2 p  6q

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.23

Multiplication & Division of Algebraic

Quantities – Brackets 2
• When simplifying expressions containing brackets first
remove the brackets and then add the like terms
together:
(3 x  7 y )  (4 x  3 y )  3 x  7 y  4 x  3 y   x  4 y

3(2 x  3 y )  ( x  5 y )  6 x  9 y  x  5 y  5 x  4 y

x(a  b)  x(a  3b)  ax  bx  ax  3bx  2bx

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 Introduction to Algebra 1 Topic 1 - 1.24

Topic 1 – Introduction to Algebra 1

Any Questions?

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