Created by T.

Madas

INDICES
Exam Questions

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 1 (**)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answer as an exact
simplified fraction.

3 − 12
42 + 4 .

b) Simplify fully the following expression

12 y −5
.
3 y −2

4
C1R , 17 , 4 y −3 = 3
2 y

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 2 (**)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions.

i. 2−4 + 8−1 .

3
ii. ( )
81
16
4
.

b) Simplify fully the following expression

2
( 4 xy 2 ) .
( 2 x )3

2 y4
C1A , 3 , 27 , 2 y 4 x −1 =
16 8 x

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 3 (**+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions where appropriate.

3 2
i. 64 2 + 64 3 .

− 12
ii. ( )
25
16
.

b) Simplify fully the following expression

3
3a 4 × (10a )
.
2 3
( 5a )
528 , 4 , 24a
5

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 4 (**+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions where appropriate.

1 1
i. 16 2 + 16 4 .

−2
ii. ( 23 ) .

b) Simplify fully the following expression

5
x2 × x .

6 , 9 , x3
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 5 (**+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions.

i. 2−5 − 8−2 .

3
ii. ( )
4
9
2
.

b) Solve the equation

− 13
y = 8.

C1G , 1 , 8 , 1
64 27 512

Question 6 (**+)
Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answers as an exact
simplified fraction.

− 23
 36 12 + 16 14 
  .
 

C1D , 1
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 7 (**+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answers as an exact
simplified fraction.

5 −1
4× 42 + 8 3 .

The answer to this part of the question must be fully supported by a detailed
method, justifying each step in the evaluation.

b) Simplify fully the following expression

4
( 2 pq 2 ) × 5 p q6 .

MP1-D , 257 , 80 p 5q11

2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 8 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions.

1 − 13
i. 83 + 8 .

ii. 8−4 × 211 .

b) Simplify fully

9 x6 y 4
.
2 3 2
( 3x y )
1
C1F , 5 , 1 ,
2 2 3xy 4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 9 (***)

a) Simplify the following expression, writing the final answer in the form
a + b 3 , where a and b are integers

3− 3
.
3+ 3

b) Solve the equation

x
x −1 = , x ≠ 0.
16

C1N , 2 − 3 , x = ±4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 10 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answers as an exact
simplified fraction.

− 32
( )
61
4
.

b) Simplify fully the following expression

4
(
12 x3 y 2 z ) .
2 6 2
(4x z )
8 8
8 , 3 x8 y8 z −8 = 3 x y
125 4 4 z8

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 11 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions, where appropriate.

6
i. .
2−2

3
ii. ( )
17
9
2
.

b) Solve the equation

3
z 2 = 27 .

C1Y , 24 , 64 , z = 9
27

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 12 (***)

a) Simplify the following expression, writing the final answer in the form
a + b 3 , where a and b are integers

2 3 −1
.
2− 3

b) Solve the equation

2 x+ 2 = 4 2 .

C1O , 4 + 3 3 , x = 1
2

Question 13 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answers as an exact
simplified fraction.

27 −4 × 311 .

b) Solve the equation

− 12
t = 1.
4

1 , t = 16
3

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 14 (***)

− 12 1
6x − x2 = 5 .

1
a) Show that the substitution y = x 2 transforms the above indicial equation into
the quadratic equation

y2 + 5 y − 6 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation and hence find the root of the indicial equation.

x =1

Question 15 (***)
The points ( 2,14 ) and ( 6,126 ) lie on the curve with equation

y = ax n , x ∈ »

where a and n are non zero constants.

Find the value of a and the value of n .

a= 7 , n=2
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 16 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions.

1 − 12
i. 42 + 9 .

ii. 325 × 8−10 .

b) Simplify fully the following expression

3a 3bc × 6a 2b 2c3
.
2abc 4

7 , 1 , 3a 2b
3 32

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 17 (***)

1 − 13
t 3 = 2 + 15t .

1
a) Show that the substitution x = t 3 transforms the above indicial equation into
the quadratic equation

x 2 − 2 x − 15 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation and hence find the two solutions of the indicial
equation.

t = −27, t = 125

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 18 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the final answers as exact
simplified fractions where appropriate.

5 3
i. 8 3 − 16 4 .

3
ii. ( 2.25)− 2 .

b) Simplify fully the following expression

4 − 12
 2a 12 b3  × 4a 6b2




( ) .

11
8b
24 , 8 , 8a −1b11 =
27 a

Question 19 (***)
Given that the curve with equation

1
y = ax − x 3 , x ≥ 0 ,

1 
passes though the point with coordinates  , 0  , find the value of the constant a .
8 

a=4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 20 (***)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the answers as integers.

4
 36 12 + 16 14  3 .
i.  
 

1 −2 .
ii. ( )
4

b) Simplify fully the following expression

1
 k 32 × 8k −3  3 .
 
 

− 12 2
16 , 16 , 2k =
k

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 21 (***+)

a) Simplify fully each of the following expressions, writing the final answer in
terms of 3 .

i. 108 + 3 .

6+ 3
ii. .
2 +1

b) Solve the equation

3
(5 − x ) 2 = 8 .

7 3, 3 , x =1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 22 (***+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expressions, giving the answers as integers.

−3
i. ( 13 ) .

86
ii. .
323

b) Simplify fully the following expression

1
 6a 7b 2 × 9b  3
  .
 2 a 

108 , 8 , 3a 2b

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 23 (***+)

a) Simplify fully each of the following expressions, writing the final answer as a
single simplified surd.

i. ( 2 + 3 )( 2 )
3 −3 .

6 +3 2
ii. .
6+ 2

b) Solve the equation

1
8w 2 − w−1 = 0 , w ≠ 0 .

C1V , 3, 3 , w= 1
4

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 24 (***+)

1 − 13
t 3 = 2 + 15t , t ≠ 0.

1
Use the substitution x = t 3 to solve the above indicial equation.

t = −27, t = 125

Question 25 (***+)
An exponential curve has equation

y = ab x , x ∈ » ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

( ) ( )
The points A 1 ,1 , B ( 2,8 ) and C − 1 , k lie on this curve.
2 2

a) Find the values of a and b .

b) Find the value of k .

a= 1 , b=4 , k = 1
2 4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 26 (***+)

− 23
 1 1 3 1 1 
125 3 × 25 2 + 16 4 × 64 3 +  .
 −1 
 49 2 

Evaluate the above indicial expression, giving the final answer as a simplified fraction.

You may not use any calculating aid in the above question, and detailed workings
must support the answer.

SYN-D , 1
16

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 27 (***+)

a) Simplify fully each of the following expressions, writing the final answer in
terms of 2 .

i. 98 + 2 .

ii. ( )(
2 +3 2−3 2 .)
b) Solve the equation

27t
=3 3.
3t −1

SYN-A , 8 2 , −7 2 , t = 1
4

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 28 (***+)

a) Evaluate the following indicial expression, giving the final answers as an exact
simplified fraction.

1 − 43
16 2 + 16 .

b) Solve the equation

− 23
x = 64 .

c) Simplify fully

2
 x 32 + 2 x − 32  .
 
 

4
SYN-V , 33 , x = 1 , x3 + 4 + 3
8 512 x

Created by T. Madas
 Created by T. Madas

Question 29 (***+)
An exponential curve has equation

y = ab x , x ∈ »

where a and b are non zero constants.

The points A (1,7 ) and B ( 3,175) lie on this curve.

Given that b > 0 , find the values of a and b .

a = 1.4 , b = 5

Question 30 (***+)
Solve the following simultaneous equations without using a calculator

8 y = 42 x +1
27 2 y = 9 x −3

SYN-W , ( − 53 , − 149 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 31 (***+)

a) Solve the equation

3
3y = .
9

b) Express

525 ,

in the form a b c , where a , b and c are prime numbers.

C1W , y = − 3 , 5 3 7
2

Question 32 (***+)
Find the exact coordinates of the point of intersection between the curves with
equations

y = 8x and y = 4 × 2− x .

( 12 , 2 2 )

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 33 (***+)

a) If x is a real number solve the following indicial equation

2
x  x 2 − 2 x 
1 − 12
 =0.
 

b) Express

98 − 8
,
1+ 2

in the form a + b 2 , where a and b are integers.

MP1-N , x = 2 , 10 − 5 2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 34 (***+)
Find, without the use of any calculating aid, the solution of the equation

1 × 42 x = 6464 .
2

MP1-A , x = 96.25

Question 35 (***+)

4 x − 2 x+ 2 = 32 .

a) Show that the substitution y = 2 x transforms the above indicial equation into
the quadratic equation

y 2 − 4 y − 32 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation and hence find the root of the indicial equation.

x=3

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 36 (****)
Solve the following simultaneous equations without using a calculator.

4 x − 3 y = 11
3 3
9 y +3 =
27 x

( 12 , −3)

Question 37 (****)
Given that the curve with equation

1 − 32
y = kx 2 − x , x≥0,

 5 
passes though the point with coordinates  3, 3  , show clearly that k = 16 .
 3  9

proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 38 (****)
The indicial equation

2 x+1 + 23− x = 17 , x ∈ » ,

is to be solved by a suitable substitution.

a) Show clearly that the substitution y = 2 x transforms the above indicial

equation into the quadratic equation

2 y 2 − 17 y + 8 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation by factorization and hence determine the two
solutions of the indicial equation.

C1M , x = −1, 3

Question 39 (****)
Solve the equation

− 12
( 25 x 2 ) = 2, x ≠ 0.

x=± 1
10

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 40 (****)
Given that

1 − 12 1 − 12
a = x2 + x and b = x2 − x ,

show clearly that

2
 1
a 2b 2 + 4 ≡  x +  .
 x

MP1-G , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 41 (****)

22 p − 2 − 2 p −2 − 3 = 0 , p ∈ » ,

a) Show clearly that the substitution x = 2 p transforms the above indicial

equation into the quadratic equation

x 2 − x − 12 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation and hence determine the value of p .

p=2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 42 (****)

( )
100 x − 10001 10 x−1 + 100 = 0 .

a) Show that the substitution y = 10 x transforms the above indicial equation into
the quadratic equation

10 y 2 − 10001 y + 1000 = 0 .

b) Solve the quadratic equation and hence find the two solutions of the indicial
equation.

C1Z , x = −1, x=3

Question 43 (****)
Determine the value of k .

2288 + 2285
= 2k .
9

You must show full workings.

MP1-I , k = 285

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 44 (****+)
Solve the following indicial equation

6 x + 2 × 21− x = 8 .
3

You must show full workings.

C1S , x = −3

Question 45 (****+)
Show clearly that

− 12
( )
1 + x x2 −1
≡
1
.
1 2
x + ( x 2 − 1) 2 x −1

SYN-M , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 46 (****+)
Solve the following exponential equation

16 + 8 x +1 − 4 x+1 − 2 x +5 = 0 , x ∈ » .

SP-J , x = ±1

Question 47 (****+)
Determine the value of k .

2399 − 2395
= 32k .
15

You must show full workings.

SYN-M , k = 79

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 48 (****+)
Solve the following equation

2 
−3  2
1 x 2 x5 3  1  −

x
×
 1 
3
+ × 
x 
2 x −  
 x  
(
 + x x3 x ) 7 =4.
 
 x

x =1

Question 49 (****+)
Solve the following indicial equation

2n
= 1.
2 n
× 26

You must show full workings.

SYN-K , n = 9

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 50 (****+)
Show with a detailed method that

3
16 − 3 2 3
3
= k 4
4

where k is a constant to be found.

SYN-L , k = 1
2

Question 51 (*****)

8
f ( x) ≡ − x, x ≠ 0.
x2

Show that f  −2 3  = 3 3 2 .
4

 

You must show detailed workings.

SPX-L , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 52 (*****)

A = 3 xy + 2 yz + 2 xz .
2

1 1 2
( )
Given that x = 4
3
3
( )
, y= 4
3
3
( )
and z = 3
4
3
, show clearly that A = 3 3 6

C1T , proof

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 53 (*****)
A curve has equation

f ( x ) ≡ 3ax + b , x ∈ » ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

Find the value of a and the value of b , given further that

f ( 2) = 3 − 3 and f ( 3) = 2 3 .

SPX-E , a = 1 , b = − 3
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 54 (*****)
A curve has equation

f ( x ) ≡ 2ax + b , x ∈ » ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

Find the value of a and the value of b , given further that

f ( 2) = 5 and f ( −2 ) = 4 .
2

MP1-S , a = − 1 , b = 2
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 55 (*****)
A curve has equation

f ( x ) ≡ 4ax+b , x ∈ » ,

where a and b are non zero constants.

Find the value of a and the value of b , given further that

( )
f 2 =134
3 4
and ( )
f 3 = 1 2.
2 2

SYN-C , a = 1 , b = −1
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 56 (*****)
Find the solutions for the following equation.

x 2 + 2 x −8
( 2x 2
− 7x + 4 ) = 1.

V , SYN-U , x = −4, 1 , 2, 3
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 57 (*****)
Find a solution for the following equation.

4 x +5
( 2 x2 − 5x − 10) =1.
2

V , SYN-Z , x = − 3
2

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 58 (*****)
Determine the value of x and the value of y in the following equation

153 x −2 × 61−2 y = 6.25 , ( 3x − 2 ) ∈ » .

SP-R , x = 4 , y = 3
3 2

Question 59 (*****)

2m +1 + 2m = 3n + 2 − 3n .

Given that m and n are positive integers, find the value of m and the value of n .

SP-N , m = 3 , n = 1

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 60 (*****)
Find the term independent of x in the expansion of

10
 x +1 x −1 
 2 −  .
 3 1 1 
 x − x3 +1 x − x 2 

SP-U , 210

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 Created by T. Madas

Question 61 (*****)
Simplify the following expression.

x6 − yz 4
x4 + x z 2 y

Give the answer in the form x 2 − x r y s z t , where r , s and t are constants.

1
SPX-Q , x 2 − x −1 y 2 z 2

Created by T. Madas