Maths Learning Service: Revision

Mathematics IA

Index Laws

Mathematics IMA
Intro. to Fin. Maths I

Index laws are the rules for simplifying expressions involving powers of the same base number.

am an = am+n
(am )n = amn
am
= amn
an
1
am = m
a

First Index Law

Second Index Law
Third Index Law

a0 = 1
1

an =

Examples: Simplify the following expressions, leaving only positive indices in the answer.
(a)

36 24
34
36
= 4 24
3

(b)

3 3
= 33
1
33
1
=
27

= 32 24

9 (x2 )
(c)
3xy 2
9 x6
1
=
2
3
x
y
1
= 3 x5 2
y
5
3x
= 2
y

(d)

a1 a
1

= a1 a 2
1

= a 2
=

1
or
a
a
1
2

Notes: (1) More involved fractional powers can be dealt with by noting that
m

a n = (a n )m by the Second Index Law. For example,

2
1
3
(27) 3 = (27 3 )2 = ( 27)2 = (3)2 = 9.

(2)

Watch out for powers of negative numbers. For example,

(2)3 = 8 and (2)4 = 16, so (x)5 = x5 and (x)6 = x6 .

Index Laws
(3)

2007 Maths IA, IMA & Intro. Fin. Maths I Revision/2

In general (ab)n = an bn . For example,
(3x2 y)3 = 33 (x2 )3 y 3 = 27x6 y 3 .

Exercises
1. Simplify the following expressions, leaving only positive indices in the answer.
2

(a)

42 43

(b)

32 (22 )
23

(c)

x5 x8

(d)

(y 4 )6

(e)

(3)3

(f)

(4ab2 c)3

(g)

x2 z 3 (xz 2 )2

(h) 2n (2n )3 22n

(i)

3m 27m 9m

(j)

(a 2 a)5

(l)

(a4 b)3 (ab)5

a8 b8

(m)

x1 y 4
x5 y 3

(o)

x3x

(r)

(3a)1 3a1

(u)

(p)

(a

(s)

3
5

32

(k)

(2ab)2
2b
10a3 b2
5a1 b2

(n)

!1

a)

(q)

2x 2 x
x2


(t)

4
25

3
2

43



23

Terms involving the symbol are known as a radicals or surds.

Notes: (1)
a + b 6= a + b . For example 144 + 25 = 169 = 13

but 144 + 25 = 12 + 5 = 17.

(2) Similarly, a b 6= a b.

(3)
ab = a b . For example 4 9 = 36 = 6 and 4 9 = 23 = 6.
s

r
16
16
4
a
a
(4)
= 4 = 2 and = = 2.
= . For example
4
2
b
4
b
These techniques can be used to simplify radicals. For example

9 2=3 2.

75 = 25 3 = 5 3 .
18 =

92=

When asked to simplify radical expressions involving fractions, you are required to produce
a single fraction (as in ordinary algebra) with no radicals in the denominator. For example

Index Laws

2007 Maths IA, IMA & Intro. Fin. Maths I Revision/3

3
3
3
2
2
+ = +
2
6
3
2
6
3
2
= +
6
6
5
=
6

5
6
=
6
6

5 6
=
6

Exercises (continued)
2. Simplify the following expressions

(a)
50
(b)
72

3
2
1
1
(e) +
(d)
2
3
10
5

(c)
(f)

12 +

27

2 3
1

15
3

Index Laws

2007 Maths IA, IMA & Intro. Fin. Maths I Revision/4

Answers to Exercises
1.

(a)

1
4

(b)

9
9
=
7
2
127

(c) x13

(d) y 24

(e) 27
(j) a15/2

(f) 64a3 b6 c3

(g) x4 z

(h) 1

(i) 32m

(k) 2a2 b

(l) a9

(m) x4 y 7

(n)

(p) a5

(q) 2x1/2

(r) a2

(s) 8

(b) 6 2

5 36 5
(f)
15

(c) 5 3

1
2

a4 b4

(u) 2

2. (a) 5 2

5 6
(e)
6

2 5 10
(d)
10

(o) x4/3
(t)

8
125