Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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Chapter 3: Indices & Standard Form

Indices

3.1 Index laws for Multiplication and Division
Multiplication

2
5
2
3
=(2 2 2 2 2) (2 2 2)
=2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
=2
8


Therefore we can say that:
2
5
2
3
=2
5+3
=2
8


In general, x
m
x
n
= x
m+n
(add the indices)

Division

3
5
3
3
=
3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3


=
3 3 3 3 3
3 3 3
/ / /
/ / /
=3
2


Therefore we can say that
3
5
3
3
=3
5 3
=3
2


In general, x
m
x
n
= x
m-n
(subtract the indices)

Example 1: Write each of these with a single index number:

(i) 2
5
2
4




(ii) 5
9
5
5



Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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(iii) 4 4
7





(iv) 7
7
7
2





(v) x
7
x
6





(vi) y
4
y
4





Example 3: Write each of these with a single index number.

(i) 6
5
6
6
6
10




(ii) 7
5
7 7
3




(iii) 5
7
5
3
5
9




(iv) 6
2
6
4
6




Example 4: Find n :
a) 3
n
3
5
= 3
2





4 =4
1

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Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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b) 5
2
x 5
n
= 5
10




c) 5
4
= 5 x 5
n





3.2 Index laws for brackets
We can often meet expressions of the form (2
3
)
2
or (2
2
)
3


These can be solved with the multiplication law.

(2
3
)
2
=2
3
2
3
=2
3+3
=2
6

(2
2
)
3
=2
2
2
2
2
2
=2
2+2+2
=2
6


In general (a
m
)
n
= a
mn


Example 1: Write each of the these with a single index number:

(i) (7
2
)
4



(ii) (8
4
)
4



(iii) (3
3
)
3



(iv) (x
2
)
5



(v) (y
8
)
2




Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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3.3 Index zero
Powers of zero

Any number or letter to the power of zero is equal to 1.

4
0
=1
5
0
=1
8
0
=1
99999
0
=1
x
0
=1
y
0
=1

So for all non-zero values of x, x
0
= 1



3.4 Negative indices and fractions with indices
Negative powers
2
2
1
2
2
-
=
In general,
1
n
n
a
a
-
=

Example1: Work out the value of the following:
(i) 2
-1



(ii) 3
-2




(iii) 10
-3




(iv) ()
2




Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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(v) 2
0




(vi) ()
4




(vii) ()
-1



(viii) ()
-3



(ix) ()
-1



(x) ()
-2



(xi) ()
-1






Summary of index laws:

The 5 index laws

1) x
m
x
n
=x
m+n
(add the indices)
2) x
m
x
n
=x
m n
(subtract the indices)
3) for all non-zero values of x, x
0
=1
4)
5) (x
m
)
n
=x
mn


Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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Standard Form

3.5 Ordinary Numbers to Standard Form
It often occurs that we need to work out calculations with very large numbers. It
could be a problem to write these numbers out so we must try and find an
alternative method.

The age of the earth is 4.6 thousand million years.

If we write this out in numbers we get:
4 600 000 000 years

This large number can be written in a way called standard form to make it
simpler.

When we write a number in standard form it is in the forma x 10
n

where 1 a <10. This means that a has to be a number larger than 1 and strictly
smaller than 10 and n is an integer.

9000 can be written as 9 1000

To be in standard form it has to be written as 9 10
3

9 is the number between 1 and 10, that is a =9 and n =3



Example 1: Write 571 in standard form

a must be a number between 1 and 10
a =5.71

The point has moved 2 digits to the left. Therefore n =2

Therefore: 571 =5.71 10
2


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Example 2: Write 250 000 in standard form



Example 3: Write 530 in standard form



Example 4: Write 9500 in standard form



Example 5: Write 9 in standard form



Example 6: Write 0.0089 in standard form

a must be a number between 1 and 10
a =8.9

The point has moved 3 digits to the right. Therefore n =-3

Therefore: 0.0089 =8.9 10
-3


Example 7: Write 0.00081 in standard form



Example 8: Write 0.49 in standard form



Example 9: Write 0.008956 in standard form




Form 2 [CHAPTER 3: INDICES & STANDARD FORM]

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3.6 Standard Form to ordinary numbers
Example 1: Write 7.3 10
4
as an ordinary number
Move the point 4 times to the right (number must get bigger)


Example 2: Write 6.54 10
-2
as an ordinary number
Move the point 2 times to the left (number must get smaller)


Example 3: Write 7.98654 10
-1
as an ordinary number


Example 4: Write 5.61655 10
6
as an ordinary number



Using the calculator

With a scientific calculator, standard form can be easily worked out.

For this method we use the EXP or 10
x
button

Example

5.6 10
4


1) Digit in the number (5.6)
2) Press the EXP button
3) Digit the power of 10
4) Press the =