INDICES

Index (indices) in Maths is the power or exponent which is raised to a number or a variable. For
example, in number 24, 4 is the index of 2. The plural form of index is indices.The constant is a value
which cannot be changed. Whereas a variable quantity can be assigned any number or we can say its
value can be changed. In algebra, we deal with indices in terms of numbers. Let us learn the
laws/rules of the indices along with formulas and solved examples.

Index Definition
A number or a variable may have an index. Index of a variable (or a constant) is a value that is raised
to the power of the variable. The indices are also known as powers or exponents. It shows the
number of times a given number has to be multiplied. It is represented in the form:

am = a × a × a ×……× a (m times)
Here, a is the base and m is the index.
The index says that a particular number (or base) is to be multiplied by itself, the number of times
equal to the index raised to it. It is a compressed method of writing big numbers and calculations.
Example: 23 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 8
In the example, 2 is the base and 3 is the index.

Laws of Indices
There are some fundamental rules or laws of indices which are necessary to understand before we
start dealing with indices. These laws are used while performing algebraic operations on indices and
while solving the algebraic expressions, including it.
Rule 1: If a constant or variable has index as ‘0’, then the result will be equal to one, regardless of
any base value.

a0 = 1
Example: 50 = 1, 120 = 1, y0= 1
Rule 2: If the index is a negative value, then it can be shown as the reciprocal of the positive index
raised to the same variable.

a-p = 1/ap
Example: 5-1 = ⅕, 8-3=1/83
Rule 3: To multiply two variables with the same base, we need to add its powers and raise them to
that base.

ap.aq = ap+q
Example: 52.53 = 52+3 = 55
Rule 4: To divide two variables with the same base, we need to subtract the power of denominator
from the power of numerator and raise it to that base.

ap/aq = ap-q
Example: 104/102 = 104-2 = 102
Rule 5: When a variable with some index is again raised with different index, then both the indices
are multiplied together raised to the power of the same base.

(ap)q = apq
Example: (82)3 = 82.3 = 86
Rule 6: When two variables with different bases, but same indices are multiplied together, we have
to multiply its base and raise the same index to multiplied variables.

ap.bp = (ab)p
Example: 32.52 = (3 x 5)2 = 152
Rule 7: When two variables with different bases, but same indices are divided, we are required to
divide the bases and raise the same index to it.

ap/bp = (a/b)p
Example: 32/52 = (⅗)2
Rule 8: An index in the form of a fraction can be represented as the radical form.

ap/q = q√ap
Example: 61/2 = √6

Indices Maths Problems

Q.1: Multiply x4y3z2 and xy5z-1
Solution: x4y3z2 and xy5z-1
= x4.x .y3.y5.z2.z-1
= x4+1.y3+5.z2-1
= x5.y8.z
Q.2: Solve a3b2/a2b4
Solution: a3b2/a2b4
= a3-2b2-4
= a1b-2
= a b-2
= a/b2

Q.3: Find the value of 272/3.

Solution: 272/3
= 3√272
= 32
=9