Chapter 3

Indices and Surds

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Subtopics
• 3.1 Simplifying expressions involving indices
• 3.2 Solving equations involving indices
• 3.3 Surds
• 3.4 Multiplication, division and simplification of surds
• 3.5 Rationalizing the denominator of a fraction
• 3.6 Solving equations involving surds

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Indices
To correct a common mistake regarding indices:

Only is powered by .

If is also to be powered by ,

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Indices
Therefore, in algebra, indices must be moved fully.

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Indices
A number/variable by itself is powered by .

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Laws of indices

𝑚 𝑛 𝑚+𝑛 0
𝑎 ×𝑎 =𝑎 𝑎 =1 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Multiplication and division laws

Only applies if both bases are the same.

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Power of a power

Indices stacked on each other are just multiplied together.

With this logic, you can also switch the places of the numbers.

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Indices with brackets

Indices applies only to the number right in front of it or the entire

bracket in front of it.

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Power of 0

Power by is not . Do not assume it is.

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Power of negative

Negative means you can get rid of it and flip into a fraction.

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Power of fractions

Powered by means .

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Power of fractions

Remember,

The power can also be written outside.

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Simplifying indices
To simplify an expression containing many indices, always do the
following:
• Write roots as power by a fraction.
• Remember to include the indices to everything withing brackets.
• At the end, flip the bottom part of the fraction upwards by reversing
the symbols of their powers.

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Worked example

( 4 𝑥 𝑦 ) × √9 𝑥 𝑦
2 2 6 2

3 2 −2
(𝑥 𝑦 )
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Practice exercises

(√ 𝑥 ) × √ 𝑥
3 2 6

1
−
3
𝑥
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( 3 𝑥𝑦 ) × √ 𝑥 𝑦
2 4 6

2
(2 𝑥 𝑦 ) 4
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3
√𝑎
4 2
−
5 3
𝑏
1 2
−
5 3
𝑎 𝑏
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Solving equations involving indices
1. Make all the bases the same.
2. Use the laws of indices to combine each side.
3. Cancel out the base on each side once only one base exists on each
side.

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Worked example 1

2𝑥−1 𝑥−1
3 ×9 =243 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Worked example 2

( 𝑥
)
9 27 =1 𝑦
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Practice exercises

2
2 𝑥 −2 𝑥
2 −8 =0
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 1
( 3 )( 9 ) =
𝑥 +1 2− 𝑥
27
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 2𝑥 2 𝑥+1
27 3
6 −𝑥
= 𝑥+3
3 9
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 𝑥 𝑦
125 ÷5 =25
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Surds
Surds are irrational square roots.
Example:

Square roots that evaluate into rational answers are not surds.
Example:

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Simplifying surds
Besides using indices laws, surds are simplified by factoring out a
perfect square from the inner term and square rooting it outside.

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Worked example

Expand and simplify.

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Practice exercises
Simplify the following.

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Expand and simplify.

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Rationalization of surds
When a fraction’s denominator contains surds, the denominator can be
rationalized by multiplying both the top and bottom by the conjugate.

For fractions of multiply top and bottom by .

For fractions of multiply top and bottom by

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Example 1

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Example 2

5
2 +√ 3 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Example 3

√ 7+3 √ 2
√7 − √ 2 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Practice exercises
Rationalize the denominators and simplify.

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A cuboid has a square base of length .
The volume of the cuboid is .
Find the height of the cuboid.
Express your answer in the form , where are integers.

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a. Find the value of .
Write your answer in the form ,
where are integers.
b. Find the area of the triangle.
Write your answer in the form ,
where are integers.

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Solving equations involving surds
Generally, just treat as normal algebra, if one side has a square root just
square both sides.

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Worked example 1

√ √ √
5𝑥= 2𝑥+ 7 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Worked example 2

√ 𝑥=2 𝑥−6 KOH ERN JEAT 2023

Worked example 3

√ √
3𝑥+4− 2𝑥+1=1 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
Practice exercises

√ √ √
17𝑥=2 3𝑥+ 5 KOH ERN JEAT 2023
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2𝑥+3− √20𝑥+9=0
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√ 2
5𝑥 −8=2𝑥
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√ √
16−2𝑥=2+ 36+6𝑥
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