Unit 02

October

1.

INTEGER EXPONENT POWERS.

1.1.

INDEX OR EXPONENT NOTATION.

Instead of writing 2 2 2 2 2 we can write 25 :

In 25 , the 2 is called the base number and the 5 is the index, power or

exponent. The index is the number of times the base number appears in the product.
This notation enables us to quickly write long lists of identical numbers being
multiplied together.
34 is the short way of writing 3 3 3 3
106 is the short way of writing 1,000,000 = 101010101010
MATH VOCABULARY: Base Number, Index, Exponent. Distribution.
1.2.

NAMING POWERS.
65 may be read as:

Six to the fifth power

Six to the power of five

Six powered to five.

NOTE: During this curse use the first way.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.1

Unit 02

1.3.

October

SQUARE AND CUBE POWERS.

We call Square Power a number to the second power. It represent the result of

multiplying a number by itself. The verb "to square" is used to denote this operation.
Squaring is the same as raising to the power 2.

We call Cube Power a number to the third power. It represent the result of the
number multiplied by itself twice. The verb "to cube" is used to denote this operation.

Cubing is the same as raising to the power 3.

MATH VOCABULARY: Square, Cube, Raise, To Factorize.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.2

Unit 02

1.4.

October

INTEGER EXPONENT POWERS.

If and

=
;

Moreover, ;
=

23 = 2 2 2 = 8

23 =
(5)3 =

1
1
=
222 8

1
1
=
(5) (5) (5)
125

2 1 3
3
=
=
3
2
2

1.5.

PROPERTIES OF POWERS.
When powers with the same base are multiplied, the base remains unchanged

and the exponents are added.

= +
75 73 = (7 7 7 7 7) (7 7 7) = 75+3 = 78
Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.3

Unit 02

October

When we have powers with different base but the same exponent, we multiply
the bases and keep the same exponent. We may also do it in the reciprocal way.
( ) =
53 73 = (5 5 5) (7 7 7) = (5 7) (5 7) (5 7) = (5 7)3 = 353
64 = (3 2)4 = 34 24
When powers with the same base are divided, the base remains unchanged
and the exponents are subtracted.

75 73 = (7 7 7 7 7) (7 7 7) =

77777
= 753 = 72
777

When we have powers with different base but the same exponent, we divide
the bases and keep the same exponent. We may also do it in the reciprocal way.

( ) = = =

153 33 = (15 15 15) (3 3 3) = (15 3) (15 3) (15 3) = (15 3)3

15 3
= = 53
3

When we have a power of powers, the exponents must be multiplied:

( ) =
(23 )5 = 23 23 23 23 23 = 23+3+3+3+3 = 235 = 215

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.4

Unit 02

2.

October

ROOTS AND RADICALS.

The nth root of a number is written as , called radical, and is the number

that must be multiplied by itself n times to equal the number .

729 = 9 93 = 729

343 = 7 (7)3 = 343

We have different types of radicals:

Radicand

>
=
<

Index

Number of Roots

n odd

1 root: positive

n even

2 roots: 1 positive and its opposite

n odd or even

1 root: =

n odd

1 root: negative

n even

no Real root

MATH VOCABULARY: Root, Radical, Radicand, Index.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.5

Unit 02

3.

October

FRACTIONAL EXPONENTS.
Radical expressions can be rewritten using fractional exponents, so radicals can

be expressed as powers.

= = = =

= =

3 2

1 2

729 = 93 = 96 = 92 = 92 = 91 = 9
Two radicals are equivalents when both can be expressed as fractional
exponent powers, with the same base and equivalent index.

=
5

10

24 2 8

Since we can represent radicals as powers, all the properties of powers are
applied to radicals.
MATH VOCABULARY: Equivalent Radicals.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.6

Unit 02

October

4.

OPERATION WITH RADICALS.

4.1.

REDUCTION OF RADICALS TO SAME INDEX.

To reduce radicals to the same index we have to express them as fractional

exponent powers and look for the same denominator using the lowest common
multiple (LCM).
3

Reduce to the same index: 5, 74 :

1

74 = 73

5 = 52 ;

We have to do the LCM of the exponent:

(2,3) = 6

1 3
4 8
= =
2 6
3 6

Therefore:
1

52 = 56 = 53 74 = 76 = 78
MATH VOCABULARY: Lowest Common Multiple (LCM), Highest Common Factor (HCF).
4.2.

SIMPLIFYING RADICALS.
You can simplify radicals by expressing them as fractional exponent powers and

obtaining the simplest fraction of the exponent.

25

Simplify 35
25

35 = 325 = 35 = 53

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.7

Unit 02

October

MATH VOCABULARY: Simplest Fraction.

4.3.

EXTRACTING FACTORS.
To extract factors from a radical, we have to factorize the radicand and express

its factors as powers. Then we have to extract the factors which exponent is higher or
equal than the radical index by using the powers properties.
Example 1:
3

3,888
3

3,888 = 24 35 33,888 = 24 35
The factor exponents (4 and 5) are greater than radical index (3), so we can at least
extract one of those factors using power properties:
1

24 35 = (24 35 )3 = 2

41
3

51
3

= 23 33

Now we use the product power property to convert the improper fraction in a integer
plus a proper fraction
4

23 33 = 23 23 33 33 = 2 3 23 33 = 6 2 32 = 618
Example 2:
4

4
3
8 5 3 = 2

8
5
1
= 2; = 1 +
4
4
4

To introduce factors into a radical, do the inverse operation.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.8

Unit 02

October

MATH VOCABULARY: Factor, To Factorize, To Extract, Equal, Improper Faction, Inverse.

4.4.

ADDING AND SUBTRACTING RADICALS.

Two radicals can only be added (or subtracted) when they have the same index

and radicand, that is, when they are similar radicals.

35 + 25 5 = (3 + 2 1)5 = 45
212 375 + 27 = 222 3 33 52 + 33 = 43 153 + 33 = 83
MATH VOCABULARY: Similar Radicals.
4.5.

MULTIPLYING AND DIVIDING RADICALS.

Due to the powers properties to multiply radicals with the same index, multiply

the radicands and the index remains the same.

1

5 10 = 52 102 = (5 10)2 = 5 10 = 50 = 2 52 = 52

To multiply radicals with different index, reduce to a common index and then
multiply.
4

4
3 = 4 6 = 4 6 = 10 = 2 =

To divide radicals we have to use the same rules, but dividing instead
multiplying.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.9

Unit 02

4.6.

October

POWERS AND ROOTS OF RADICALS.

To calculate the power or the root of a radical we express the radicals as

powers and we use the power of power property.

1 2

5 = 52 = 5
4 3

2 =

5.

1
23

1
1 4
23

12
2

=5
1

12

= 212 = 2

RATIONALIZING THE DENOMINATOR.

Sometimes in Algebra it is desirable to find an equivalent expression for a

radical expression that doesnt have any radicals in the denominator. This process is
called rationalizing the denominator. We will use the multiplication identity property.
MATH VOCABULARY: To Rationalize, Algebra.
5.1.

THE DENOMINATOR IS A SINGLE SQUARE ROOT.

When you have a single square root in the denominator you just multiply top

and bottom by it.

2

5.2.

5 5

25
5

THE DENOMINATOR IS A SINGLE NTH ROOT.

When you have a single nth root in the denominator, multiply by something so

that you will get a perfect nth power.

72

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

73

73

=
5
5
7
72 73
1

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.10

Unit 02

October

In general:

5.3.

THE DENOMINATOR IS EITHER A SUM OR A DIFFERENCE OF SQUARE ROOTS.

When you have a sum or a difference of square roots (Binomial) in the

denominator, multiply the top and the bottom by the conjugate of the denominator.
The conjugate of + is , and vice versa.
1

2 3

2 + 3

2 3 2 + 3

2 + 3
= 2 3
23

MATH VOCABULARY: Binomial, Conjugate.

6.

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION.
Scientific Notation (also called Standard Form in Britain) is a special way of

writing numbers. It is a number of the form , where:

|| [, )

, called Order of magnitude.

150,000,000 = 1.5 108
0.0000081 = 8.1 106
It is supposed you know already how to add, subtract, multiply and divide

numbers in scientific notation from previous courses

MATH VOCABULARY: Scientific Notation, Standard Form, Order of Magnitude.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.11

Unit 02

7.

October

LOGARITHMS.
Given two numbers, + , and + , the logarithm in base of b,

, is the index we need for raising to get .

= =
2 8 = 3 23 = 8

If the base is 10 (scientific notation), it is called Common Logarithm, and we

write it without the base.
log 100 = 2 102 = 100
If the base if the irrational number e, it is called Napierian logarithm. and we
write it .

ln

1
= ln 3 = 3
3

MATH VOCABULARY: Logarithm, To Raise, Common Logarithm, Napierian Logarithm.

8.

LOGARITHMS PROPERTIES.
The logarithms have also some properties that will help us to solve exercises

and problems. All of them come from the power properties.

8.1.

DIRECT PROPERTIES.

= ,
= ,
Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.12

Unit 02

8.2.

October

LOGARITHM OF A PRODUCT.
The logarithm of a product is the addition of the logarithms of each factor.

( ) = +
8.3.

LOGARITHM OF A FRACTION.
The logarithm of a fraction is the subtraction of the logarithms of each factor.

8.4.

LOGARITHM OF A POWER.
The logarithm of a power is the product of the index by the logarithm of the

powers base.
=
8.5.

CHANGING BASES.
To change the base of a logarithm we use this formula:
=

4 12 =

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

log 12
log 4

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.13

Unit 02

8.6.

October

LOGARITHMS EQUATIONS.
To solve logarithms equations we have to apply the logarithms and power

properties.

9 =

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

1
1
2
1
1
94 = (32 )4 = 34 = 32 = 3 =
4

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.14

Unit 02

October

1. Number each of the boxes below, 1-16. On a separate sheet of paper, show
work for each box as you solve the logarithm equation. Each box has at least
one equation. Show all your work.
2. On the puzzle below, write your answer for x next to each equation. Then cut
out each box individually.
3. To solve the puzzle, the touching edges should be equivalent.
For example, log 2 x = 4 should touch the edge where x = 16 .
4. Glue down your pieces on a separate sheet of paper. The final product you
turn in should be the re-arranged puzzle pieces (should still look like a square)
and the page of work you did for all 16 individual squares.

Axel Cotn Gutirrez

Mathematics 4 ESO

4.2.15