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Index laws are the rules for simplifying expressions involving powers of the same base number.
Examples: Simplify the following expressions, leaving only positive indices in the answer.
3
36 24 5 9 (x2 )
(a) (b) 2
3 3 (c) (d) a1 a
34 3xy 2
36 9 x6 1 1
= 4 24 = 33 = 2 = a1 a 2
3 3 x y
1 1 1
= 32 24 = = 3 x5 2 = a 2
33 y
5
1 3x 1 1
= = 2 = 1or
27 y a2 a
Notes: (1) More involved fractional powers can be dealt with by noting that
m 1
a n = (a n )m by the Second Index Law. For example,
2 1
(27) 3 = (27 3 )2 = ( 27)2 = (3)2 = 9.
3
Exercises
1. Simplify the following expressions, leaving only positive indices in the answer.
2
32 (22 )
(a) 42 43 (b) (c) x5 x8
23
(d) (y 4 )6 (e) (3)3 (f) (4ab2 c)3
Terms involving the symbol are known as a radicals or surds.
Notes: (1) a + b 6= a + b . For example 144 + 25 = 169 = 13
but 144 + 25 = 12 + 5 = 17.
(2) Similarly, a b 6= a b.
(3) ab = a b . For example 4 9 = 36 = 6 and 4 9 = 23 = 6.
s
a a 16 16 4
r
(4) = . For example = 4 = 2 and = = 2.
b b 4 4 2
When asked to simplify radical expressions involving fractions, you are required to produce
a single fraction (as in ordinary algebra) with no radicals in the denominator. For example
Index Laws 2007 Maths IA, IMA & Intro. Fin. Maths I Revision/3
3 2 3 3 2
+ = +
2 6 3 2 6
3 2
= +
6 6
5
=
6
5 6
=
6 6
5 6
=
6
Exercises (continued)
2. Simplify the following expressions
(a) 50 (b) 72 (c) 12 +
27
1 1 2 3 1 2 3
(d) (e) + (f)
5 10 3 2 3 15
Index Laws 2007 Maths IA, IMA & Intro. Fin. Maths I Revision/4
Answers to Exercises
1 9 9
1. (a) (b) 7
= (c) x13 (d) y 24 (e) 27
4 2 127
(f) 64a3 b6 c3 (g) x4 z (h) 1 (i) 32m (j) a15/2
2 5 10
2. (a) 5 2 (b) 6 2 (c) 5 3 (d)
10
5 6 5 36 5
(e) (f)
6 15