SURDS AND INDICES

I. Laws of Indices :
i) a
m
x a
n
= a
m+n

ii)

iii) (a
m
)
n =
a
mn

iv) (ab)
n
= a
n
b
n

iv)

vi) a
0
= 1


n m
n
m
a
a
a

=
n
n
n
a
a
b
a
=
|
.
|

\
|
SURDS : Let a be a rational
number and N be a positive integer
such that is irrational.

Then is called a surd of
order n.

n
a
n
n
a a =
1
LAWS OF SURDS
i) ii) x

iii) iv) = a


v) = vi)

n
n
a a
1
=
n n
a ab =
n
b
n
n
n
b
a
b
a
= ( )
n
n
a
m
n
a
( )
n m
m
n
a a =
mn
a
EXAMPLE : 1
If 2
x-1
+ 2
x +1
= 1280, then find
the value of x


ANSWER
2
x-1
+ 2
x+1
= 1280 = 2
x-1
(1+2)
2

= 1280
= 2
x-1
=

= 256 = 2
8

= x - 1 = 8 = x = 9
Hence , x = 9.

5
1280
EXAMPLE : 2

Find the value of

4
1
3
3
1
3
1
27 8 5
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
ANSWER




4
1
3
3
1
3
1
27 8 5
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
( ) ( )
4
1
3
3
1
3
3
1
3
3 2 5
(
(

)
`

+ =
4
1
3
3
1
X 3
3
1
X 3
3 2 5
(
(

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
|
|
.
|

\
|
( ) ( ) ( )
4
1
3
4
1
3
5 x 5 3 2 5 = +
( ) 5 5 5 5
1
4
1
x 4
4
1
4
= =
|
|
.
|

\
|
= =
EXAMPLE : 3
Find the value of







|
.
|

\
|
+ + +
|
.
|

\
|
1 2
1
2
1
2
3
1 2
1
4 2 4 4
Answer

Putting we get:





where

,
2
1
4
x =
|
.
|

\
|
+ + +
|
.
|

\
|
1 2
1
2
1
2
3
1 2
1
4 2 4 4
), 1 )( 1 (
2 3
+ + + = x x x x
4
2
1
= x
) 1 )( 1 ( ) 1 )( 1 )( 1 (
2 2 2
+ = + + = x x x x x
1 ) 1 2 ( 2
2
1
) 1 (
1
x4
4
1
1
4
4
4
= =
(
(

=
(
(

|
.
|

\
|
= =

|
.
|

\
|

x
EXAMPLE:4
The value of
is




a) b) c) d)



( ) ( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 . 0 075 . 0 25 . 0
07 . 0 13 . 0
343 x 49 x 7
243 x 243
7
3
3
7
7
3
1
7
2
2
ANSWER :
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 . 0
3
075 . 0
2
25 . 0
07 . 0 13 . 0
7 x 7 x 7
243
+
=
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
2 . 0 x 3 075 . 0 x 2 25 . 0
2 . 0
7 x 7 x 7
243
=
( )
( ) ( ) ( )
6 . 0 15 . 0 25 . 0
2 . 0
5
7 x 7 x 7
3
=
( )
( )
7
3
7
3
7
3
1
1
) 6 . 0 15 . 0 25 . 0 (
) 2 . 0 x 5 (
= = =
+ +
EXAMPLE:5



a) 0 b)

c) d) 1
? . .
) ( ) ( ) (
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ + + a c
a
c
c b
c
b
b a
b
a
x
x
x
x
x
x
c b a
x
+ +
abc
X
Answer:
Given Exp.
) )( ( ) )( ( ) )( (
. .
a c a c c b c b b a b a
x x x
+ + +
=
) ( ) ( ) (
2 2 2 2 2 2
. .
a c c b b a
x x x

=
1
0 ) (
2 2 2 2 2 2
= = =
+ +
x x
a c c b b a
EXAMPLE:6
If = 1, then


a) 0 b) 1

c) d) ab


abc
?
1
1
1
1
1
1
1 1 1
=
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+
+ +
+
+ +

a c c b b a
ab
1
Answer:
Given Exp.
1 1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1

+ +
+
+ +
+
+ + a c c b b a
1 1 1
1
1 1 1
1
1
+ +
+
+ +
+
+ +
=

ac a
a
c b b
b
b a
1 1 1
1
1 1
1
1
+ +
+
+ +
+
+ +
=

b a
a
a b
b
b a
1
1
1
1
1
=
+ +
+ +
=

b a
b a
] and ) ( 1 [
1 1 1 1
= = = = b ac a c b a bc abc