19: Laws of Indices

Christine Crisp
Teach A Level Maths
Vol. 1: AS Core Modules
Laws of Indices
Module C1
Edexcel
OCR
MEI/OCR
Module C2
AQA
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Laws of Indices
Generalizing this, we get:
Multiplying with Indices
e.g.1
=
4 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
7
2 =
4 3
2
+
=
e.g.2
=
3 2
) 1 ( ) 1 (
) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 ( ) 1 (
5
) 1 ( =
3 2
) 1 (
+
=
n m n m
a a a
+
=
Laws of Indices
If m and n are not integers, a must be positive
n m n m
a a a
+
=
e.g.3
2
3
2
1
2 2
2
3
2
1
2
+
=
2
2 =
Multiplying with Indices
n m n m
a a a
+
=
) 0 ( > a
) 1 (
Laws of Indices
3 3
3 3 3 3 3

Generalizing this, we get:
Dividing with Indices
1
Cancel
1
1 1
e.g.
=
2 5
3 3
3
3 =
2 5
3

=
n m n m
a a a

=
) 0 ( > a
) 2 (
Laws of Indices
Powers of Powers
2 4
) 3 (
e.g.
4 4
3 3 =
by rule (1)
8
3 =
2 4
3

=
n m
n
m
a a

=
) 0 ( > a
) 3 (
Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer
1.
2.
3.
7 3
2 2
16 4
2
= =
2
3
2
64 2
6
= =
5
7
4
4
1024 2
10
= =
Laws of Indices
A Special Case
e.g. Simplify
4 4
2 2
Using rule (3)
4 4
2 2
4 4
2

=
0
2 =
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2


=
1 =
Also,
4 4
2 2
Laws of Indices
1 =
0
2 =
e.g. Simplify
Also,
4 4
2 2
4 4
2 2
Using rule (2)
4 4
2

=
2 2 2 2
2 2 2 2


=
4 4
2 2
So,
0
2
1 =
Generalizing this, we get:
A Special Case
1
0
= a ) 4 (
Laws of Indices
5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5


Another Special Case
1
1 1
1 1
1
e.g. Simplify
7 3
5 5
Using rule (3)
7 3
5

=
7 3
5 5
4
5

=
Also,
=
7 3
5 5
4
5
1
=
Laws of Indices
=
7 3
5 5
7 3
5

=
7 3
5 5
5 5 5 5 5 5 5
5 5 5


e.g. Simplify
Using rule (3)
Also,
1
1 1
1 1
1
7 3
5 5
4
5

=
4
5
1
=
So,
4
5

4
5
1
=
Another Special Case
Laws of Indices
Generalizing this, we get:
e.g. 1
=
3
4 =
3
4
1
64
1
e.g. 2
=
3
2
1
=
3
2 8
Another Special Case
n
n
a
a
1
=

) 5 (
Laws of Indices
Rational Numbers
A rational number is one that can be written as
where p and q are integers and
q
p
0 = q
e.g. and are rational numbers
7
4
3 |
.
|

\
|
=
1
3
are not rational numbers and
2 t
Laws of Indices
The definition of a rational index is that
p is the power
q is the root
e.g.1
=
2
1
4
2 4 =
e.g.2
=
3
2
27 =
2
3
27 9 3
2
=
e.g.3
=

2
1
16
=
2
1
16
1
4
1
16
1
=
Rational Numbers
p
q
a a
q
p
=
) 6 (
Laws of Indices
SUMMARY
The following are the laws of indices:
n m n m
a a a
+
=
n m n m
a a a

=
n m
n
m
a a

=
1
0
= a
n
n
a
a
1
=

p
q
a a
q
p
=
Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer
1.
2.
3.
0
5 1 =
2
1
25
5 25 = =
7
9
3
3
9 3
2
= =
Laws of Indices
Exercises
Without using a calculator, use the laws of indices to
express each of the following as an integer or fraction
4.
5.
6.
3
4
8
2
3

2
3
9

16 2 8
4
4
3
= = =
9
1
3
1
2
= =
27
1
3
1
9
1
9
1
3
3
2
2
3
= = = =
Laws of Indices
Laws of Indices
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Laws of Indices
SUMMARY
The following are the laws of indices:
n m n m
a a a
+
=
n m n m
a a a

=
n m
n
m
a a

=
1
0
= a
n
n
a
a
1
=

p
q
a a
q
p
=
Laws of Indices
1.
2.
3.
0
5 1 =
2
1
25
5 25 = =
7
9
3
3
9 3
2
= =
Examples
Laws of Indices
4.
5.
6.
3
4
8
2
3

2
3
9

16 2 8
4
4
3
= = =
9
1
3
1
2
= =
27
1
3
1
9
1
9
1
3
3
2
2
3
= = = =