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When a base has a power, we say that base is raised to the power
Answer: 23
If you are asked for the value. You must work out the answer
23 = 2 x 2 x 2 = 8
35 = 729
Square Numbers:
1 = 12
4 = 22
9 = 32
16=42 = (22)2 = _
25=52
36 = 62
49=72
64= 82 = (23)2 = _
Etc.
Sometimes we are given a number that is not in its simplest form eg 8, and we must
write it index form
8 = 23 This requires practice and the knowledge of our tables and square numbers. Can
you write 144 in exponent form? 144 = ……
When multiplying 2 or more quantities with the SAME BASE, we may add their
powers.
Examples:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10
(I) 23 × 27 = 210 WHY? 23 × 27 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 210
(III) 32 × 3 × 34 = 32 + 1 + 4 = 37
Note: When a power is not written for a quantity, the power of the quantity is 1.
Therefore 3 = 31
(IV) 2 × 32 × 24 × 3 × 5
The rule says we add powers if base is same so we may add only powers of
numbers with the same base
Rewriting we have
2 × 24 × 3 × 32 × 5 = 21+4 × 31 +2 × 5 = 25 × 33× 5
When dividing terms that have the SAME BASE, subtract the power of the one
we are dividing by from the one being divided.
Examples:
(I) 210 ÷ 27 = 27 – 3 = 24
(II)X2 = x5 - 2 = x3
X2
(IV)We can write it like this because when multiplying fractions we multiply
numerators by each other and denominators by each other
23 × 510 × 75 = 23 × 510 × 75
22 × 73 × 54 22 54 73
= 23 - 2 × 510 - 4 × 75 – 3
= 2× 5 × 72
When we have a base raised to some power e.g 23 and we raise that to some
power e.g (23)4, we may multiply the powers together or simply use rule 1
Examples:
Notice that (1x2)3 = 13×6 (we usually work these out mentally.)
= x6
Note: (53)1/2 = (5 1/2)3. In general (am)n= (an)m. Multiplication is commutative.
Examples
(I) a0 = 1
(II) x0 = 1
(III)(y/7)0 = 1
(IV) (10,000)0 = 1
(V) (-3)0 = 1
Also
23= 2× 2 × 2 = 1 × 2 × 2× 2
22= 2× 2 = 1 × 2× 2
21= 2 = 1× 2
20= ? = 1
𝟏
(6.) Negative Indices 𝒂−𝒏 =
𝒂𝒏
When raising a quantity to a negative power (index), write the reciprocal of the
number raised to the positive power. In other words, flip it to remove the – sign
(remember to keep the power with the base)
1 3 2𝑥 4 16 𝑥
2-1 = 5-3 = 1 a2 b-2 c-3 =a2 ( )-4 =( ) =
2 2𝑥 3 81
53 b2c3
3 10 3 1000 1
( )-3 =( )= (2-1)-1 = ( )-1 = 2
10 3 27 2
𝑚⁄ 𝑛
(7.) Fraction Index 𝑎 𝑛 = √𝑎 𝑚
When raising a quantity to a fractional index, we first raise the quantity by the
numerator and then find the root the denominator tells us to.
Examples:
3
(I) X5/3 = √𝑥 5
EXERCISE:
1. Translate the following by writing statement in index form:
(I.) x-squared (II.) a cubed (III.) five to the power of two ( IV.) two to the power of seven
(IV.) eleven squared times thirteen cubed
5.) Simplify each of the following: (i.) (23)2 (ii.)(33)4 (iii.) (y2)4 (iv.) (4k)3
(v.) (5ab2c3)4 (vi.) (11x2yz3)5 (vii.) (t2 × t3)÷t 4
6.) Write each of the following in exponent form
(i.) 1 (ii.) 1 (ii) 2x5 (iv.) 7 (v.) 27
3 52 x7 z9
8.) Write the following as fractions:
(a.) 2-1 (b.) a-3 (c.) x-1 (d.) 5m-6
Summary
Index form is simple way of writing the same number being multiplied by itself.
Example: x2 = x × x
Index form: bp
E.g. with one quantity: x2,102, 23 (Do not need to calculate value)
E.g. with (2+) quantities: 25×32, x3×y×z2 (Do not need to calculate value)
base: the number(s) being used in the multiplication
Power: the number of times the base will be used in the multiplication
Rules of Indicies
(1.) The Power of One (𝑎)1 = 𝑎
(2.) Multiplication 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒎 = 𝒂𝒏+𝒎 The bases MUST BE THE SAME
(3.) Division 𝑎𝒏 ÷ 𝑎𝒎 = 𝑎𝒏−𝒎 The bases MUST BE THE SAME
(4.) Power (𝑎𝑛 )𝑚 = 𝑎𝑛𝑚
(5.) Zero Index (𝑎)0 = 1
𝟏
(6.) Negative Indices 𝒂−𝒏 = 𝒂𝒏
𝑚⁄ 𝑛
(7.) Fraction Index 𝑎 𝑛 = √𝑎 𝑚