Indices

W. Gray

Indices or Powers
An index is often called a power. It is a number written as a superscript against another number (the base) to indicate how many times the base is being multiplied by itself. So 2 is the same as 2 x 2, i.e. there are two 2s multiplied together. (This often called squared). Likewise 2 is 2 cubed and represents 2 x 2 x 2. Anything can be raised to a power including algebraic variables. E.g. x. An illustration using 3 as the base Index form Qty of 3s to multiply together. 30 0 31 1 2 3 2 3 3

Expanded expression 3 3x3 3x3x3

Resulting value 1 3 9 27

The Laws of Indices

Multiplication

2 x 2 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 25
To multiply powers with the same base add the indices.

Law a x a y = a x + y
Division Consider the following:

33 3 3 3 31 = = 31 3 3 = 2 = 3 33 1
3 2

or

(31 is the same as 3 as anything to the power of 1 is the same.)

Law a x a y = a x y
Power of a power

(2) = (2) x (2) = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 26

i.e. multiply the powers together Law: ( x a ) b = x ab

Laws of indices.doc

Indices

W. Gray

The value of a base with a power of zero

33 3 3 3 1 3 3 = 3 = = =1 3 3 3 3 1
3 3

but using the division rule:

33 33 = 333 = 30
so 30 must be equal 1 e.g. x0 = 1, 90 = 1, (3ax)0 = 1
in fact anything raised to a power of zero is equal to 1.

The power of 1

33 32 =

33 3 3 3 3 = =3 = 33 33 1

but from division of powers

33 33 = 332 = 31

so 31 = 3.
This makes sense because the power indicates how many of a particular variable are multiplied together and if the power is one then we only have one of that variable, so anything to the power of 1 is unchanged. This makes the writing of it unnecessary (redundant) and it is usually omitted. However when operating on indices it can often help to clarify the operation if it is included.

Negative indices

n2 nn 1 = = 3 n nnn n 2 n n 2 n 3 = 3 = n 23 = n 1 n n2 n3 =
Therefore a negative power is the same as the reciprocal of the base to the positive power.
3 e.g. 2 =

1 23

Laws of indices.doc

Indices

W. Gray

Fractional indices
A square root of a number is that, which when multiplied by itself, equals the number. E.g. the square root of 9 is 3, as 3 multiplied by 3 equals 9. Consider the following:
1
1 2 1 2 1 1 + 2 2

5 5 =5

and

5 5 = 5

= 51

This means that the square root of 5 is the same as 5 to the power of a half.

This takes into account that when we write

5
1

we really mean:
1 3

51

This applies to any root so for example

5 =5

(cube root)

We do not normally write the power of 1 as anything to the power of 1 is the same and when we do not write the value of the root in we mean square root. The power goes on top of the fraction and the root goes on the bottom.

84 = 8

4 3

The power goes on top The root goes on the bottom

Laws of indices.doc

Indices

W. Gray

Summary

a x a y = a x+ y
a x a y = a x y
x0 = 1
a

xb = x

b a

1 = x 1 x
3 = 3 x 1 x

x 1 1 1 1 = x or = 2x 2 2

3 3 x 2 = 2 4x 4

Laws of indices.doc

Indices Exercises (try to do these without looking at the summary) 1. evaluate the following; m4 m5 a) b) m4 mb x 4 x 9 x 2 c) d) xa xb a 2 2. a) b) c)

W. Gray

4. Convert from root to index form: a) b) c) d)

a

143 43
xb
3

142

x4 / x2 x 4 x 5 x 2

5. convert from index to root form a) b) c)

2 4

x11 x9

x
x

2 4
m n

d) 3. a) b) c) d) e)

xw xr

6. evaluate a) b) a0 33 (2) 1 / 25

(x (x (x (x

4 5 2 5 4 2

c)
5

a b

) x )

x 3

d)

xa xa

Note: be careful when writing powers 5 is not the same as 5

Laws of indices.doc

Indices Answers

W. Gray

1. a) b) c) d) 2. a) b) c) d) 3. a) b) c) d) e) 4. a) b) c) d) 5. a) b) c) 6. a) b) c) d)

M9 M4+b x11 xa+ba

x x x xw-r x20 x-10 x16 xab x2a 143/7 4-3/2 xb/a 144/3

1 x x
n

xm

1 27 64 0.03125

Laws of indices.doc