INDICES

LAW OF INDICES

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INDEX NOTATION
Simplify: a to the power of 5
a × a × a × a × a = a5
a5 has been written using index notation.
The number n is called
the index, power or
n
The number a is
a exponent.
called the base.
In general:

n of these
an = a × a × a × … × a
INDEX NOTATION
Evaluate the following:

0.62 = 0.6 × 0.6 = 0.36

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.
THE MULTIPLICATION RULE

When we multiply two terms with the

same base the indices are added.

For example:
a4 × a2 = (a × a × a × a) × (a × a)
=a×a×a×a×a×a
= a6 = a (4 + 2)
In general:

am × an = a(m + n)
THE DIVISION RULE

When we divide two terms with the

same base the indices are subtracted.

For example:

5 a×a×a×a×a
2
a ÷a = = a3 = a (5 – 2)
a×a
2
6 4×p×p×p×p×p×p
4
4p ÷ 2p = = 2p2 = 2p(6 – 4)
2×p×p×p×p
In general:

am ÷ an = a(m – n)
THE POWER RULE
When a term is raised to a power and the result
raised to another power, the powers are multiplied.

For example:
(y3)2 = y3 × y3 (pq2)4 = pq2 × pq2 × pq2 × pq2

= (y × y × y) × (y × y × y) = p4 × q (2 + 2 + 2 + 2)

= y6 = y3×2 = p4 × q8

= p4q8 = p1×4q2×4
In general:

(am)n = amn
THE ZERO INDEX

Look at the following division: Any number or term divided

by itself is equal to 1.
y4 ÷ y4 = 1

But using the rule that xm ÷ xn = x(m – n)

y4 ÷ y4 = y(4 – 4) = y0

That means that y0 = 1

In general:

a0 = 1 (for all a ≠ 0)
NEGATIVE INDICES

Look at the following division:

2 4 b×b 1 1
b ÷b = = = 2
b×b×b×b b×b b
But using the rule that am ÷ an = a(m – n)
b2 ÷ b4 = b(2 – 4) = b–2

–2 1
That means that b = 2
b
In general:

1
a–n =
an
NEGATIVE INDICES

Write the following using fraction notation:

1) u–1 = This is the

reciprocal of u.

2) 2n–4 =

3) x2y–3 =

4) 5a(3 – b)–2 =
NEGATIVE INDICES

Write the following using negative indices:

2a–1

x3y–4

p2(q + 2)–1

3m(n2 – 5)–3
FRACTIONAL INDICES

Indices can also be fractional. For example:

What is the meaning of ?

Using the multiplication rule:

= a1
=a

But
is the square
root of a.
So
FRACTIONAL INDICES

Similarly:

= a1
=a

But
is the cube
So root of a.

In general:
FRACTIONAL INDICES

What is the meaning of ?

We can write

Using the rule that (am)n = amn, we can write

We can also write

In general:

or
FRACTIONAL INDICES

Evaluate the following:

SUMMARY OF THE INDEX LAWS

Here is a summary of the index laws for all rational exponents:

SOLVING EQUATIONS INVOLVING INDICES

We can use the index laws to solve certain types of equation

involving indices. For example:

Solve the equation 25x = 1255 – x.

25x = 1255 – x
(52)x = (53)5 – x
52x = 53(5 – x)
2x = 3(5 – x)
2x = 15 – 3x
5x = 15
x=3
EXAMINATION-STYLE QUESTION
a) Express 32x in the form 2ax where a is an integer to be
determined.
b) Use your answer to part a) to solve the equation

a) 32 = 25
So 32x = (25)x
32x = 25x Using the rule that (am)n = amn

b) Using the answer from part a) this equation can be written as

5x = x2
5x – x2 = 0
x (5 – x) = 0
x = 0 or x = 5